AGE OF A HORSE. 113 



edge only worn, and corner teeth grown to an even height, 

 but not worn much, and hooks grown, but not worn. At 

 six, the nippers on the lower jaw are worn even and the 

 middle teeth have still a cavity. At seven, the same jaw 

 shows that the middle teeth have become even, and both 

 edges of corner teeth rub, but still retain a slight cavity. 

 At eight, a mere trace of the mark is visible in the lower 

 corner teeth. At nine, the upper nippers have almost lost 

 their mark, the middle ones show a faint mark, and the 

 corner teeth have a deeper mark than the middle ones. At 

 nine, also, the upper corner teeth begin to show a curve in 

 the surface. This curve gradually deepens as age increases. 

 At ten, the mark in the middle upper teeth has changed 

 from oblong to nearly circular, and at eleven, the same 

 change is noticed in the corner teeth. At twelve, the lower 

 nippers have become nearly round, while they were broad 

 in youth ; the middle teeth become so at thirteen, and the 

 corner ones at fourteen. At fifteen, the upper nippers are 

 rounded ; the middle teeth follow suit at sixteen, and the 

 corner teeth at seventeen. When eighteen, the lower nip- 

 pers appear three-cornered ; at nineteen, the middle ones, 

 and at twenty, the corner teeth get into style. At twenty- 

 one, the upper nippers get the three-corner shape ; at 

 twenty-two, the middle, and at twenty-three the corner 

 teeth do likewise. If the teeth project unnaturally, and are 

 very long, it is more difficult to judge of the age, as they 

 have not worn down as they grew out, hence the markings 

 deceive. Such horses may be suspected, also, of not 

 properly masticating their food. This is a great defect, in- 

 asmuch as the same amount of food will do them less good, 

 and encourages physical defects of serigus nature, as time 

 elapses. Old horses and those with weak powers of assimi- 

 lation are expensive property. This is a fault chargeable to 



