THEEE-YEAR OLD MOUTH. (J5 



face, and the mark is long, narrow, deep and black. Not having 

 yet attained their full growth, they are rather lower than the 

 others. The mark in the two next nippers is nearly worn out 

 and it is wearing away in the corner nippers. 



"is itpossiUe to give this mouth to an early two-year-old f 

 The ages of all horses used to be reckoned from the first of May, 

 but some are foaled even as early as January, and being actu- 

 ally four months over the two years, if they have been well 

 nursed and fed, and are strong and large, they may, with the 

 inexperienced, have an additional year put upon them. The 

 central nippers are punched or drawn out, and the othei-s ap- 

 pear three or four months earlier than they otherwise would. 

 In the natural process they would only rise by long pressing 

 upon the first teeth, and causing their absorption. But opposi- 

 tion from the first set being removed, it is easy to imagine that 

 their progress will be more rapid. Thi-ee or four months will 

 be gained in the ai^pearance of these teeth, and these three or 

 four months will enable the breeder to term him a late colt of 

 the preceding year. To him, however, who is accustomed to 

 horses, the general form of the animal, the little development 

 of the forehand, the continuance of the mark on the next paii 

 of nippers, its more evident existence in the corner ones, some 

 enlargement or irregulai-ity about the gums from the violence 

 used in forcing out the teeth, the small growth of the first and 

 fifth grinders, and the non-appearance of the sixth grinder, 

 which, if it be not through the gum at three years old, is swell- 

 ing under it, and preparing to get through— any or all of these cir- 

 cumstances, carefully attended to, will be a sufficient security 

 against deception. 



" A horse at three years old ought to have the central perma- 

 nent nippers growing, the other two pairs wasting, six grinders 

 in each jaw, above and below, the first and fifth level, the others 

 and the sixth protruding. The sharp edge of new incisors, al- 

 though it could not well be expressed in the cut, will be very 

 evident when compared with the old teeth. 



" As the permanent nippers wear and continue to grow, a 



injurious effect, either on the eyes or the mouth, and consequently it is useless to 

 interfere with them. When, however, the teeth grow irregularly, the permanent 

 ones appearing by the side of the temporary, the latter should be removed. 

 Vol. I. — 5 



