Determing Equine age by teeth

Objective Develop a basic understanding of how teeth can be used to determine the approximate age of a horse

Age terminology Foal: until weaned Colt: male until age 3 Stallion: male age 3 or above Filly: female until age 3 Mare: female age 3 or above Weanling: between 6 mos. and 1 year Yearling: 1 to 2 years old 2-year-old: a horse that is two years old

What we know about age Prime age for a horse: about seven to nine years A top quality older horse may sell at the same price as a younger horse of lesser quality. Horses can be active into late 20s with proper care

Age in the competitive world A foal's birthday is considered as January 1, regardless of the actual birth month Example: A foal born April 1, 1996, will be 10 years old on January 1, 2006. Foals born right after January 1 will have the advantage of more growth than those born later in the year.

How do we determine age? A breed registry birth record is the best option Teeth can provide an estimate if proof of age does not exist. Requires some practice

Types of Teeth Temporary Permanent Also known as baby, milk ,or deciduous teeth Appear starting at birth through 9 months Well-defined neck joining root and gum Permanent Appear starting at 2 ½ years through about age 4 Larger, longer, darker in color and have no well-defined neck joining root and gun

The Equine Jaw Molars (3 farthest back) Premolars (3 farthest front) 3rd incisor/ corner 2nd incisor/ intermediate 1st incisors/centrals/ pincers/nippers

Back six teeth Molars (3 farthest back) Premolars (3 farthest front) (Front of mouth) Photo ©2005 Nancy Crombie, UBP

Age by teeth Accuracy Management can affect changes in teeth. accurate in young horses Probability of error as age increases Management can affect changes in teeth. Whether stabled or grazing Can be breed related Changes can vary from horse to horse.

How to Estimate age Uses the 6 upper and 6 lower front teeth (incisors) Canine teeth or "tusks“ May appear midway between the incisors and molars at 4 or 5 years of age in male horses Seldom appear in mares Adult horses have 24 molar teeth.

Cups: deep indentures in the center of young teeth 1. Disappearance of cups Cups: deep indentures in the center of young teeth Upper teeth cups are deeper than lower cups. Regular progression, completely smooth at age 11 Dental stars appear in advanced age First as narrow, yellow lines in front of the central enamel ring Later as dark circles near the center of the tooth http://www.infovets.com/books/equine/B/B015.htm

1. Disappearance of cups 6 Year old 7 Year old Dental Star

2. Angle of incidence The angle formed by the meeting of the upper and lower incisor teeth (profile view) Young horse = 160 to 180 degrees Older horse = less than a right angle; incisors appear to slant forward and outward A dovetail, notch or hook is formed on the upper corners at 7 years of age

2. Angle of incidence 160 degrees Less than right angle

3. Shape of the surface of the teeth Young = broad and flat teeth Age 8-12 = back inside is oval Age 15 = back inside is triangular Over 20 = teeth are rectangular and deeper from front to rear than they are wide

Teeth change Side-to-side grinding motion wears down molars Some of the edges along where the cheeks or tongue are located can get very sharp in places (called points or hooks), making it painful to chew. A painful mouth can lead to lameness problems.

Equine dentistry A float is used to file down sharp areas and other abnormalities Abscessed teeth may be pulled A horse with poor teeth may need hay pellets or cubes soaked in water

Dental abnormalities Parrot mouth: lower jaw too short, so upper and lower incisors do not meet Interferes with grazing Monkey mouth: upper jaw too short; seldom seen

Dental abnormalities Cribbing: teeth-damaging habit where a horse gnaws on a feedbox or fence Bishoping: tampering with cups to make the horse appear younger than it is

Physical signs of aging Sides of the face become more depressed More prominent poll Deeper hollows above the eyes Backbone becomes more prominent and starts to sag Joints appear more angular White hairs:temples, eyes, nostrils and elsewhere on horses with a dark coat.