The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-30
Horses Teeth.

Horses do not chew their food by a
direct up and down motion. The un-
der jaw is narrower than the upper,
and when the lower jaw iss raised tn
meet the upper, 1t is worked sideways,
SO as to grind the grain or hay between
The surfaces of The opposing rows of
teeth. Now the movement sideways
must pull the insides of the cheeks
against the outside edge of the upper
teeth. To any one who has never
seen nor felt these teeth, the intensely
keen, sharp condition they get in
would, indeed, be a great surprise.
Owing to the irregular outline of the
border Of the teeth, the points that
form can best be described as compar-
ing them to briars. The inside
edge of the lower jaw is likewise
sharp, but not near so long or keen
as the upper outside edge. Some
.imes, but not as o rule, they are very
sharp.
Now ,3is has been the experience of
many thata great pere entage of hor-
aes that do not do we'll are simply pre-
vented by sharp teeth. The horse
Gnds more comfort in grinding his
food as little as possible and swal-
lowing it.as quickly as he can. For
evrry time he attempts to grind each
mouthful, the sharp points stick in to
his cheeks and pain him, and he
learns by Infusion to avoid that
which causes him pain, and in conse-
quence he bolts his food before masti-
eating it. Almost all grain has an
indigestible shell surrounding the
nutritious portion, and unless this
outside shell is broken, all the whole
grain swallowed by a horse passes
through him without doing him any
good.
AS a positive proof of this in sever.
al hundred cases men have smoothed
these snarp points, and Immediately
the hcrses gained rapidly in flesh,
without any other agentto help them.
As horse has six molars on each
side of the jaw, it is important, when
they are being smoothed, to have ev-
cry tooth looked after, for the main
trouble may be with the last tooth
back, and too often only the first three
or four teeth are filed. and the back
teeth neglected. A simple test that
can be used by even the inexperienced
as to whether the outside edge has
been properly smoothed, without hav-
ing to put the hands inside the mouth,
is to rub the fingers qui'e firmly
against the edge of the upper teeth {,
and if the horse opens his mouth or
twists the lower jaw, have this row of
teeth looked at again. Time and time
again, men have almost lifted the
horses head by the force applied
against the outside edge ofthe upper
row, and the horse evinced no pain
whatever. The first requisit for a
horse to do we'll is for him to grind
his food properly, and if he bolts a
large percentage, just so much is lost.
Agsin, focd that is not masticated as
it should be causes indigestion, and
indigestion produces collie, etc.
This article, is only confined to the
influence sharp teeth have upon hor-
ses' eating and digestion.
tits no pipe dream, says the Horse
World, that drivers, by sudden yank
upon the reins, cause horses such in
tense pain that they break into wild
runs, and the more they are pulled
the more excitable they become, till
at last they become frantic and un-
controllable. AL of which can be
avoided by placing horses teeth in
proper condition and having them
kept so.