60 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



If you can answer the question submitted in this chapter 

 to your own satisfaction, buy a horse to yourself. If you 

 cannot, and distrust your own opinion, get some more 

 experienced horseman to look over the animal you desire 

 to purchase, before you part with your cash. 



CHAPTER IV 



THE AGE OF THE HORSE FROM HIS MOUTH 



In the generality of common-bred stock, foaled between 

 the beginning of April and the end of June — that are living 

 pretty much in a state of nature, on succulent food, to the 

 end of three years old before they are handled — a con- 

 siderable uniformity in the approach of their permanent 

 teeth and the age in general may be told without contra- 

 diction. But man, for his own ends and purposes, has used 

 such artificial means in the rearing and treatment of the 

 young horse, that he has in a manner subverted Nature's 

 laws in this particular ; and it is not an uncommon occur- 

 rence to see a two, three, and four years old colt showing 

 a three, four, or five years old mouth ; that is, the teeth 

 indicating those particular ages will be up, and nearly 

 matured, a full year before Nature seems to ordain they 

 should be. This may be seen in three parts of the young 

 horses brought into the market in the spring of the year, as 

 four and five years old, which are in reality only three and 

 four. This deception is accomplished by pulling out the 

 sucking-teeth at an early period. The mouth thus altered 

 is comparatively easier of detection than the one which has 

 obtained this forward appearance in its natural development. 

 The case is different in racing or thoroughbred stock, 

 inasmuch to some the object would appear of more advan- 

 tage to make them, if possible, appear even younger than 

 they really are. But " query," are not the peculiarities of 

 nature so much altered in these young animals, by the 

 early period in which they are foaled, the manner in which 

 they are fed, and the early age at which thej^ are broke and 

 trained, as to occasion them to be more early matured in 

 their general organisation, and consequently their teeth to 

 appear at a much earlier period (in man}'- instances in colts) 



