Determining age, height, and weight of horses Flashcards
How long is a horse considered a foal?
Until they are weaned
How old is a weanling?
6 months to 1 year
How old is a yearling?
1 year to 2 years
What is a colt?
A male horse until 3 years old
What is a filly?
A female horse until 3 years old
Age is important for ____.
Competitive events
For racing or showing the foal’s birthdate is considered ____ regardless of the actual month.
What is an advantage? Disadvantage?
January 1
Advantage - everyone is the same
Disadvantage - physical/mental maturity won’t be the same
What is the best method for aging horses?
Records and papers
True or False?
Determining age by teeth is inaccurate
False: determining age by teeth is fairly accurate
When does it become more challenging to determine age by teeth?
10-14 years
The 12 front teeth are called ____.
Incisors
Two central pairs above and below called ____, ____, or ____.
centrals, pincers or nippers
Four teeth adjacent to the central pairs are called ____.
intermediates
Outer four teeth are designated as ____.
corners
What teeth may appear midway between the incisors and molars at 4-5 years of age?
Canine teeth
Canine teeth appear about what age?
4-5 years
True or False?
Canine teeth frequently appear in mares
False: canine teeth seldom appear in mares
How many molar teeth do adult horses have?
24 molar teeth
What are 4 keys to estimating horse age?
- Occurrence of permanent teeth
- Disappearance of cups
- Angle of incidence
- Shape of the surface of the teeth
How many sets of teeth do horses have?
Two: one temporary, one permanent
The temporary set of teeth are called what?
Baby or milk teeth
When do baby or milk teeth erupt?
They usually erupt in pairs at 8 days, 8 weeks, 8 months
Compared to baby teeth, permanent teeth are ____, ____, ____.
larger, longer, darker in color
When do the center permanent teeth appear?
3 years old
When do the intermediate permanent teeth appear?
4 years old
When do the corner permanent teeth appear?
5 years old