Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-21
Justification of Horses Mouths.

TIE age of the horse is generally de-
termined by the teeth, especially by the
incidence and appearances of the inclsors
which are readily examined; but, un-
fortunately, these handy natural indices
of age are easily tempered with. Breeders
and dealers frequently remove the tenn
porary incisors, endeavor to give the
animal full mouth at three, and thus
between the ages of three and six it be-
comes difficult to tell within a year the
age of the horse. To compass this deceit,
when the colt is about eighteen months,
the central inclsors are drawn year be-
fore they would naturally have stirred;
within few weeks the next pair are
similarly removed; the corner nippers are
shortly chopped out; and before the colt
is three he is passed off as four-year-oid,
and may even be palmed on the unwary
as rising five This talking of the teeth
was won't 70 be confined to the lighter
breeds, and was said to be most system
atically practiced in Ireland; but the
mouths of cart horses, as we'll as of nags,
are now frequently tampereds with, sub
jecting the animals to much unnecessary
inconvenience and pain, lacerating the
gums, and occasionally breaking the bones
Of the jaws.
The lancing of the gums and liberal house
feeding hasten the development of the
tushes, and thus help to pass the four
year-old for FIVE. The molar teeth cam
not, however. be readily gouged out, and
in dubious cases they according y enable
the veterinarian to determine the true age
of the horse. These temporary molars are
found in the mouth on each side above and
below when the foal is about two months.
By the time he is year old ne requires a
| more extensive grinding apparatus, and
the first permanent molar is fully up be-
hind the three temporary, and occupying
the fourth place on each side, above and
below. At two years old the fifth in the
row appears. Soon after two and a half,
! the first and second temporary molars be-
come displaced by permanent teeth, and
| at three years are nearly level with the
| others. Between three and half and
| four years, the third and sixth molars are
cut, and gradually come into full wear.
The malpractices described would not be
attempted if they did not pay, and horse
| buyers and veterinarians might advant-
| ageously exert themselves to discounten-
ance and expose them. A step in the
! right direction would be the abandon
| ment of the dubious expressions of rising
four or rising fve.' Veterinarians Is.
pecially should definitely state the age OF
the animals submitted to them; and in
cases where the incisor teeth have been
tempered with, should, as above indicated,
ascertain the true age by examination of
the molars.
The misrepresentation of the age of
young horses is fraught with more mis-
chief than perhaps at first sight is appar-
| emit. Not only does the purchaser pay 81
to so per cent. more than he should do,
but innocently supposing that the horse is
a year older than he really is, he is put to
unsuitably hard or heavy work,
and accordingly in many instances
breaks down. His soft, immature
growing tissues cannot stand the strain
of severe exertion; he is disabl-
ed by ligamentous strains, enlarged joints,
or spawned hooks; TO! cling feeding and
close stabling impair the adolescent APP
petite and digestion; or reducing work
predisposes the juvenile to disease of the
respiratory or other organs. This sense
less doctoring of their mouths hurries
thousands of young and unseasoued horses
into severe continued work one to two
years before they are fit for it, and is
VIGOROUSLY one of the chief causes Of i'm.
paired usefulness, unsoundness, sickness,
and early mortality.