192 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



teeth to rise much quicker than they would do 

 naturally, and three or four months may be thereby 

 gained In their reproduction ; consequently dealers 

 who wish to take advantage of this may sell a colt 

 for a year older than he actually is. 



But we must look to the general form of the 

 animal, and when young it will be manifested by 

 the small development of the forehead. The second 

 pair of incisors will still have the mark, and it will 

 also be much stronger on the corner ones, and 

 probably with an enlargement or Irregularity about 

 the gums, in consequence of the teeth having been 

 violently forced out ; the first and fifth grinders will 

 be small, and the sixth will not have yet appeared. 

 As it is the teeth of the lower jaw which are usually 

 consulted as to his age, dealers who wish thus to 

 impose seldom extract the teeth of the upper jaw, 

 therefore it would be v/ell to examine it also, when 

 all the signs will remain. Attention to these points 

 will enable anyone to detect the true age of the colt. 



At two years to two-and-a-half the central 

 temporary incisors are cast, and at three years 

 replaced by the central permanent. At three years 

 to three-and-a-half the middle temporary incisors are 

 cast, and at four years replaced by the middle 

 permanent. At four years to four-and-a-half the 

 corner temporary incisors are cast, and at five years 

 replaced by the corner permanent. 



A horse at three years of age will have the 

 central permanent nippers growing with their edges 

 sharp In comparison to the others. 



The tushes are now fully half-an-inch above 

 the gums, with an external rounded prominence, 

 and a groove on each side. Up to the period of 

 the reproduction of the corner Incisor the animal is 



