1'4 AGE. 



one, upon those who have but Httle or no experience 

 upon the subject. But a discerning eye will readily 

 discover the cheat, by the unnatural shape and black- 

 ness of the hollows, the dulness and roundness of the 

 tusks, together with the want of squares to the front 

 teeth, and by many other visible marks, which denote 

 the advanced age of a horse. 



Between nine and ten years of age, a horse generally 

 loses the marks of the mouth, though there are a 

 few exceptions ; as some horses retain good mouths 

 until they are fourteen or fifteen years old, with their 

 teeth white, even, and regular, and many other marks 

 of freshness and vigour. But when a horse grows old, 

 it may be discovered by these indications, which com- 

 monly attend old age, viz.: The gums wear away and 

 leave the roots of the teeth long and slender ; the roots 

 grow yellow, and often brownish ; the bars of the 

 mouth (which are always fleshy, plump, and dry, in a 

 young horse, and form so many distinct, firm ridges,) 

 in an old horse, are lean, smooth, and covered with 

 sahva, with few or no ridges. The e3^es of a young 

 horse appear plump, full, and lively; the lids with few 

 wrinkles, the hollows above the ball small, and no 

 gray hairs upon the brow, unless they proceed from 

 the colour or marks of the horse. The eyes of an old 

 horse appear sleepy, dim, and sunk, and the hds loose 

 and very much shrivelled with large hollows and the 

 brow gray. The countenance of a young horse is bold, 

 gay, and lively ; while that of an old one is sad, dejected, 

 and melancholy, unless mounted, and artificial means 

 used to give him spirit. 



The chin of a horse, in my opinion, is by far the 

 best mark to enable you to ascertain his age, inasmuch 

 as it does not admit of the practice of those arts, by 



f^ 



