Tilling the age of the Horse.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 April 1913, Page 4

Tilling the age of the Horse.

I There aro four ways of telling the age of a horse, according to tho American Agriculturist—by his teeth; by his ribs, by tho flesh on his tail, and by tho skin on his cheek. In a young house the cheek skin is soft and elastic, and flies back quickly when raised; in an old one it is lifeless, and goes back but slowly. Old horses apparently have a wider and more distinct space between their ribs than young horses, and, with ago the flesh on the tail shrinks, making the joints more distinct than they aro on a young horse. Judging by the teeth is a more accurate method. Tho coming of the temporary teeth first and then tho permanent ones, the development of maturity, the change in shape 011 account of wear, tho coining of tho cups in the teeth, and their wearing away afterwards; and the change in the angle of the meeting of the teeth, from straight [ together at five years to a sharp angle at twenty—all these are signs j by which tho experienced horseman can read accurately tho age of a horse. It must be remembered that the permanent teeth above and below, como in at the same time, but that the cups above do not wear away until all tho cups below aro gone. It must also bo remembered that changes begin at tho centre, and continue at the rate of one pair year.