The perfect horseman, or, The experienced secrets of Mr. Markham's fifty years practice shewing how a man may come to be a general horseman, by the knowledge of these seven offices, viz. the breeder, feeder, ambler, rider, keeper, buyer, farrier / and now published by Lancelot Thetford, practitioner in the same art for the space of forty years.

His Teeth.

If you will know his Age by his Teeth, you must understand, that an Horse hath in his head just forty teeth, that is to say, six great Wong teeth above, and six below on one side, and as many on the other, which maketh twenty four, and are called his Grinders: Then six above and six below in the fore-part of his mouth, which are cal∣led Gatherers, and make 36. Then four Tushes, one above, and one below on one side, and are called the Bit Teeth, which maketh just fourty.

Now the first year he hath his Foals teeth, which are onely Grinders and Gathe∣rers, but no Tushes, and they be small, white and bright to look on.

The secound year he changeth the four formost teeth in his head, that is, two above and two below in the midst of the rows of the Gatherers, and they are browner and bigger then the other.

The third year he changeth his teeth next unto them, and leaveth no apparent Foals teeth before, but two above, and two below of each side, which are also bright and small.

The fourth year he changeth the teeth next unto them, and leaveth no more Foale•• teeth but one of each side, both above and below.

The fifth year his formost teeth will be all changed; but then he hath his tushes on each side compleat, and the last Foals teeth which he cast, those which come up in their place, will be hollow, and have a little black speck in the midst, which is called the mark in the horses mouth, and continueth till he be past eight years old

The sixth year he putteth up his new tushes, near about which you shall see grow∣ing a little of new and young flesh, at the bottome of the tush: besides, the tush will be white, small, short and sharp.

The seventh year all his teeth will have their perfect growth; and the mark in the horses mouth (before spoken of) will be plainly seen.

The eighth year all his teeth will be full, smooth and plain, the black speck or mark being no more but discerned, and his tushes will be more yellow then ordinary.

The ninth year his formost teeth will be longer, broader, yellower and fouler then at younger years, the mark gone, and his tushes will be bluntish.

The tenth year in the inside of his upper

••ushes will be no holes at all to be felt with ••our finger•• end, which tel that age you shall ••••••r feel: besides the temples of his head will begin to be crooked and hollow.

The eleventh year his teeth will be excee∣ding long, very yellow, black and foul, one∣ly he may then cut even, and his teeth will stand directaly opposite one to another.

The twelfth year his teeth will be long, yellow, black and foul; but then his upper teeth will hang over his nether.

The thirteenth year his tushes will be worn somwhat close to his chaps (if he be a much ridden horse) otherwise they will be black, foul and long, like the tushes of a Boar.