14 



imperfect sight, when he is brought out of a dark stable, 

 for him to wrinkle his brow often, and look up, appa- 

 rently endeavoring to see plainer. 



The teeth, in the next place, will require particular 

 examination. A horse has six teeth above and six below in 

 the foremouth, which are denominated the cutting teeth. 

 At about two and a half years old it changes two on the 

 top and two on the bottom, which are called the nippers ; 

 at three and a half it changes two others ; at four and a 

 half years it changes the nook teeth ; at five years old it 

 has a full mouth, when the tusks appear. At six years 

 old, the nook teeth are a little hollow ; at seven years 

 there is a black mark like the end of a ripe bean ; after 

 seven years it is difficult to ascertain the exact age of the 

 animal, but as years increase, the flesh will be observed 

 to shrink from the teeth, which grow long and yellow. 



The yee^ should next be examined. They should be 

 smooth and tough, of a middle size, without wrinkles. 

 The heels should be firm, and not spongy, \}i\Q frogs horny 

 and dry, and the soles somewhat hollow, like the inside 

 of a dish or bowl. 



Particular regard should be had to the limhs, to see 

 that they are free from splents* and windgalls ;t the 

 knees should be straight, and not bending, or what is 

 called a calf's knee ; the hack sineios strong, well braced, 

 and fiee from swellings of all kinds ; and the hocks lean, 

 and free from spavins and all tumors. The body should 

 be about the medium size, the hack straight, or have only 

 a moderate sinking below the withers. When the back 

 of a horse is low, or higher behind than before, it is very 

 unsightly, and a sign of weakness. The rihs should be 

 large ; the flanks full ; a horse with a short hind quarter 

 does not look well. 



It is very important that the wind of the horse should 

 be regarded ; this can easily be ascertained by the mo- 

 tion of his flanks, after driving him fast for a few rods 

 soon after he drinks in the morning. A broken-winded 

 horse always pinches in his flanks, with a very slow mo- 



* There are several kinds of s/» ints, viz., the bone-splent, the blood" 

 Bplent, and the born splent. 

 t Windgalls are soft tumors seated on either side of the fetlock joint. 



