THREE- YEAR- OLD MO UTH 1 2 1 



attained to their full growth, they are not up so high 

 as the others, the mark in the two next nippers is 

 nearly worn out, and in the corner nippers it is wearing 

 away. It is quite possible to give this mouth to an 

 early two-year-old. The ages of all horses are reckoned 

 from the ist of May (saving thoroughbreds, which 

 reckon their age from the ist of January). But some 

 horses are foaled as early as December and January. 

 If such horses are well fed and taken proper care of, 

 they may be taken for three-year-olds. But the expe- 

 rienced hand can tell as easily by the shape of the 

 forehead and general form of the animal as a novice 

 can by means of the teeth. The teeth of the upper 

 jaw tell their own tale, if any suspicious soreness exists 

 in the gums, by reason of the baby-teeth having been 

 removed, and the continuance of the mark on the next 

 pair of nippers will also of itself betray that foul play 

 has been used to make the mouth look older than it 

 really is. Those who backed Gladiateur (as I did for 

 all I could get on him) are not likely to forget him. 

 I did not see his mouth, but as regards his appearance, 

 he looked like a five-year-old ; and I ' lumped ' it on 

 him for the Derby and also for the Grand Prix. The 

 question as to his age was, I believe, for some time a 

 matter of dispute. 



So, then, three-year-olds should have the central 

 permanent nippers growing, the other two pairs 

 wasting, six grinder teeth in each jaw, the first and 

 fifth being level with the others, and the sixth pro- 

 truding. The sharp edges of the new nippers will be 

 very apparent when compared with the neighbouring 

 teeth. 



At three and a half the next pair of nippers will be 



