THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 
temporary teeth. At two years of age he gets four more 
back molars, one on each side of each jaw. When the age 
of two years and nine months is reached the two middle 
teeth of the temporary incisors, or front teeth of each jaw, 
fall out, and are replaced by two permanent incisors in each 
jaw ; thus at the age of three years these four permanent 
incisors are up and in wear. At this age, the first eight 
molars, two on each side of each jaw, are shed and replaced 
by eight permanent molars. At four years of age he sheds 
four more front teeth next to those shed at three years, and 
these are replaced by four more permanent incisors or front 
teeth. At this age, too, he shesla the four remaining tem- 
porary molars or grinders, which are replaced by four more 
permanent molars. He also gets four more permanent molars 
at the back of the mouth. Thus at the age of four years the 
colt has a full set of permanent molars, consisting of six on 
each side of each jaw, making twenty-four in all. At five 
years of age he sheds the four remaining temporary incisors 
or front teeth, which are replaced by four permanent incisors, 
known as the corner teeth. It is well to become familiar with 
the time at which the colt sheds his different teeth, for some- 
times the caps or shells of the teeth do not fall off when they 
should. These should be watched, for they greatly interfere 
with feeding and should be removed with a forceps. At five 
years of age the canine or bridle teeth make their appearance; 
thus at the age of five years the colt has all his teeth or 
what is known as a full mouth. 
VI. TABLE OF THE TEETH. 
Incisors or Front Teeth. Molars or Grinders. 
Aci. Temporary or Temporary or 
Milk Teeth. Permanent Milk Teeth. Permanent. 
The foal at or soon after birth. . . 
4 
0 
12 
0 
, . , 8 
0 
lii 
0 
12 
0 
12 
0 
, 12 
0 
12 
4 
12 
0 
12 
8 
The colt at three years 
. 8 
4 
4 
16 
The colt at four years 
4 
8 
0 
24 
The colt at five years 
. , , 0 
12 
0 
24 
At five years of age his bridle, or canine teetli make their 
appearance. These are four in number ; thus at the age of 
five years a horse has a full mouth of teeth, numbering forty 
in all. 
