ANATOMY, UNSOUNDNESS, AND AGE OF A HORSE 55 



As the age increases, the incisor teeth become more 

 triangular, and those of the lower and upper jaws meet 

 at a more acute angle. The tusks become large, blunt 

 and round. The incisors may grow out so long as to 

 prevent the molars from meeting, thus interfering with 

 the mastication of the food. In such cases rasping the 

 incisors until the molars meet will prove beneficial. (Figs. 

 45,47-) 



Irregularities in the teeth. — ^When the teeth are not 

 regular the horse is said to have a "false mouth." These 

 irregularities may occur in the number, as there may be 

 more or less than the regular number — 36 in mares or 40 

 in the horse ; they may occur in the form of the teeth, or 

 in the uniting of two teeth ; they may occur because one 

 jaw happens to be longer or shorter than the other; 

 they may occur as the result of cribbing — a bad habit in 

 which the horse bites the stable fixtures or other objects, 

 thus breaking the teeth; or they may be due to fraud- 

 ulent means, the horseman striving to give the teeth the 

 characteristics of that period of life in which horses 

 have their greatest value, thus endeavoring to make the 

 young appear old and the old young. This altering the 

 natural appearance of the teeth is called "bishoping." 

 While many are skilled at this work, it is difficult to alter 

 the teeth without detection, though they can no longer 

 serve as an index in estimating age. 



