AGE. 75 



which the jockey so often passes off an old broken 

 down horse for a young one. The appearance of the 

 chin can be changed only by nature : and he who will 

 becotne an attentive observer, will soon be convinced, 

 that it is not more difficult to tell an old horse from a 

 young one, by the appearance of their chins, than it is 

 for a skilful physician to distinguish a cheek of health 

 from one that is wasted, diseased, and superannuated. 



The chin of a young horse is round, full, plump, full 

 of wrinkles, and the pores close and small ; that of a 

 horse advanced in years, flat, wrinkled, flabby, and the 

 pores open and large. Indeed, after some experience, 

 together with particular attention to this mark of age, 

 there will be but little difficulty of ascertaining, with 

 certainty, the age of a horse from three to nine years 

 old. I have sometimes met with travellers on the 

 road, whom I never before had seen, and in travelling 

 along, have told the age of their horses by their chins. 

 An examination of the lips and nostrils of a horse, 

 may aid, corroborate, and strengthen the opinion of 

 age, founded on the appearance of the chin. The lips 

 and nostrils of a young horse are smooth and free 

 from wrinkles, while those of an old one abound in 

 them. 



Were I in pursuit of truth and honour, I never 

 should seek them in the lower class of dealers in horses 

 or horse jockeys. Whenever they have a horse to 

 dispose of, they assure a purchaser he possesses every 

 desirable quality, &c. and whenever they have effected 

 a sale, they smile at their success, and expose every 

 vice to which the horse was addicted, to the next 

 person they meet. 



The pliysiognomy of a horse wilf assist much in 

 ascertaining his age ; but the chin is certainly the 

 safest guide. 

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