ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOOY. 37 



horse is probably eight; if it is worn off, he is probably at least 

 nine. Just as the presence of the temporary teeth shows the 

 colt-age, so the absence of the central enamel shows that the 

 horse is more than eight — that he is "past telling' ' with any degree 

 of certainty. It is much more difficult, even with this central 

 enamel as a test, to distinguish between the eight- and the nine- 

 year-old horse than it is to tell a four-year-old from a five-- 

 year-old. 



In fact, it must be impressed upon all that there is no in- 

 violate rule for the growth and wear of the teeth. Differences 

 in the density of the dentine, differences in food and method of 

 feeding, or bad stable habits, will cause teeth to vary widely in 

 appearance in horses of the same age. 



At nine the tables of the center teeth are quite rounded, the 

 , dental star is much more rounded in them than before. 



From nine on the indications of the horse's age become in- 

 creasingly less reliable. Mayhew says: " The greater the num- 

 ber of years, the more difficult it is to arrive at the exact determi- 

 nation of the age. After the twelfth year there is but little prob- 

 ability of judging it correctly; after the sixteenth, all is con- 

 fusion, for there are no positive signs that will enable us to give 

 a definite opinion upon this point, and it is better now to be 

 cautious, or remain silent."* 



The amateur had better go farther than that and refrain 

 from any positive judgment after nine. 



When the dental star becomes round and the tables tri- 

 angular, the horse is probably twelve or more; and when the 

 necks of the teeth become small and widely separated, he is ap- 

 proaching very near to the end of his period of usefulness. 



In judging horses for age it is best to proceed leisurely. 

 Open the horse's lips, and view first the faces from the side. 

 Look for temporary teeth; see if the teeth meet evenly; see if 

 the upper corner tooth has a hook; observe the plumpness of the 



*"The Horse's M£,j^/^J^By])|^g^0^dition, p. 104. 



