HOW TO TELL THE AGE. 



563 



are 



FIG. 318. At 5 years. 



vex. It is still as concave within, and the edge nearly as sharp 

 as it was six months before. 



At six years the mark on the central nippers is worn out 

 In the next pair the mark is 

 shorter, broader, and fainter ; 

 and in the corner teeth, the 

 edges of the enamel are more 

 regular, and the surface is ev- 

 idently worn. The tush has 

 attained its full growth, being 

 nearly or quite an inch in 

 length; convex outward, con- 

 cave within; tending to a 

 point, and the extremity some- 

 what curved. The horse may 

 now be said to have a perfect 

 mouth, as all the teeth 

 produced and fully grown. 



At seven years, the mark, in the way in which we have de- 

 scribed it, is worn out in the central nippers, and fast wearing 

 away in the corner teeth ; the tush also is beginning to be altered. 



It is rounded at the point; 

 rounded at the edges; still 

 round without; and beginning 

 to get round inside. 



At eight years the tush is 

 rounder in every way; the 

 mark is gone from all the bot- 

 tom nippers, and it may almost 

 be said to be out of the mouth. 

 There is nothing remaining in 

 the bottom nippers that can 

 afterward clearly show the age 

 of the horse. The upper nip- 

 FIG. 319. At 6 years. pei*s will give some indications, 



but nothing certain. 



After the age of eight years, there are no points that will ena- 

 ble determining age with any degree of accuracy. A horse that 



