52 THE AGE OF THE HORSE. 



comparison of a horse at six and one at seven. At 

 seven years, the central incisors are more trian- 

 gular, and the ''mark" is shallower. It is not 

 so elongated in a horse at seven years. Again, 

 at the latter age the table in front of, and 

 behind, the mark is fairly well formed. At 

 eight years — which may be termed the age of 

 deception — the central mark has undergone con- 

 siderable alteration in its shape in the whole 

 of the incisor teeth. In the " centrals " it repeats 

 almost the outline of the table, being triangular, 

 whilst it is very much smaller in the " laterals " 

 and " corners " than in a horse of seven years. 

 After a horse has turned eight, it is usual to speak 

 of it as being " aged," and any opinion as to the 

 animal's age after eight years, or thereabouts, can 

 only be an approximation. Galvayne's method 

 of ascertaining the age from ten years upwards, 

 affords a fairly rehable means of giving an opinion, 

 though a speculative one, as to the probable age of 

 an animal. Mr. Galvayne refers to a groove that 

 makes it appearance upon the outer face of the 

 upper " corner " incisors at the age of ten years. 

 This groove begins close to the gum, and it is 

 due to shrinking of the latter ; and the more 

 the shrinking of the gums the more the groove 



