To tell the age of any horse Inspect the lower jaw of course; The six front teeth the tale will tell, And every doubt and fear dispel.

Two middle nippers you behold Before the colt is two weeks old; Before eight weeks two more will come Eight months: the corners cut the gum.

At two the middle “Nippers” drop: At three the second pair can’t stop; When four years old the third pair goes, At five a full new set he shows.

The deep black spots will pass from view At six years from the middle two; The second pair at seven years; At eight the spot each corner clears.

From the middle “Nippers” upper jaw At nine the black spots will withdraw. The second pair at ten are bright; Eleven finds the corners light.

As time goes on the horsemen know The oval teeth three-sided grow; Then longer get - project before - Till twenty, when they know no more."