felling the age of the Horse.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 May 1913, Page 4

felling the age of the Horse.

There are four ways of telling the ago of a horse, according to tho American Agriculturist—by hia teeth, by his libs, by the flesh on his tail, and by the skin on .his cheek. In young horse the cheek skin is soft and elastic, and flics back quickly when raised; in an old one it is lifeless, and goes back but ulowly. Old horses apparently have a wider and more distinct space botweon their ribs than young horses, and, with age the flosh on the tail shrinks, making the joints moro distinct than they are on a young horse. -Judging by the teeth is a more accurate method. The coming of the temporary tooth first and thou the permanent onos, the development of maturity, the change in shape on account of wear, the coming of the enps in tho teeth, and their wearing away afterwards; and the change in .the angle of tho meeting of the teeth, from straight together at fire years to a sharp anglo at twenty—all these are signs by which the experienced horseman can read Ticcumtcly tho age of a horco. ■It inust.be remembered that the permanent teeth above and Bolow, oomo !u at the satne time, but that the cups obove do not wear away until all tho cupu below arc gone. It must also be remembered that changes begin at the centre, and continue at the rato of. one pair year.