Look at their teeth.
2007-03-28 02:14:50
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answer #1
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answered by Ellie F 3
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I am assuming that you do not have access to registration papers or previous owners- the best way to tell an exact age.
Usually you can tell by the wear on it's teeth. Most vets who do dental work can give you a general estimate. Even with teeth floating, you can usually get some type of estimate by the amount of tooth that is left above the gum line. If it is an older horse, you can really just say 20 yrs+ or 25 yrs +. We have a pony that we bought 10 yrs ago in the 25 yrs+ category by her teeth. If you look at her body (straight back yet even, and she keeps weight on) she looks probably about 15 yrs. Only in the last year or so has she shown signs of aging (deafness, and almost blind in one eye). Ponies are the hardest to tell on though because they live so long.
With adult horses, they will just look worn when older. The back will be swayed (unless a broodmare- then they back may sway early) and they will look sunken in by the hibs and abdomen region. Now, once again, not every horse shows these signs. If an older horse is ridden regulary and made to use it's back, you can slow the visibile signs of ageing.
A way to tell with a young horse is teeth and if under 3 yrs, tail length. Anything between 3-15 or so can really just be estimated by teeth.
2007-03-28 09:19:23
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answer #2
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answered by D 7
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Now that you have all the stupid answers, I will tell you the real way to check a horses age. Their back teeth. A young horses teeth will be more flat and less forward than an older horses teeth. It's the back teeth that you check as well as the very front. As a horse gets older he will have to have his teeth floated. This files them down, from years of chewing hay their teeth can get a bit uneven and jagged, floating them is basically like filing your nails. I suggest that if you are planning on getting a horse that you do a little research on care and needs of the animal. Some horses can be very hard keepers. There is so much more to know than just how to ride.Good Luck with your new friend. The 2 answers above mine are probably even more accurate than mine....
2007-03-28 09:32:32
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answer #3
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answered by skipper 4
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Hi I read some of your answers wow some people eh. A horse has a groove on the longest tooth, right beside the front teeth on both sides. this groove is your best bet the groove will start at the gumline and go down towards the end of the tooth. If the groove is just starting and you know your horse is not over twentyfive, your horse is about twelve. If you think by the sway in the back and how the horse keeps weight on that it is older than the horse is about twentyfive or older. The groove disapears at twentytwo and comes back about twentyfive. But a young horse under twelve will never have this groove. By the way the groove will appear dirty and grass coloured and it is on the surface of the tooth.
kabobly
2007-03-28 11:24:21
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answer #4
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answered by kabobly 1
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At first you can tell by the gaps in the horses knee bones. They have a gap there until they are mature. So you can tell if it is a baby. Then you look at the teeth, they start off with milk teeth then they get two adult teeth in the middle, then the next two come out and so on. after they have all their adult teeth, the four corner teeth don't quite meet and form a sideways V shape, that is when they are five years old. As the corner teeth grow and wear down the teeth flatten out and then the upper corner teeth slightly overlap the lower ones and form the seven year hook. After that they get grooves in their teeth that get longer as they get older. But generally the more the teeth protrude forward, like buck teeth the older the horse is. There are lots of books with diagrams in them if you want to study it further. Best wishes.
2007-03-28 09:33:12
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answer #5
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answered by Ripplediane 4
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Ask horse about her age
2007-03-28 09:14:18
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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One way is to look at its teeth. Although thats not always surefire, because many owners have their horses teeth floated, or filed down which can make em look younger.
2007-03-28 09:16:58
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answer #7
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answered by silverhawk1985 2
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you cant tell unless you have papers for the hourse or if uve had it from since it was a foal
2007-03-28 09:15:55
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answer #8
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answered by georgialovesgary 1
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Look at its birth certificate.
2007-03-28 09:14:11
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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yeah, cut off his leg and count the rings!! JUST KIDDING!! I really don't know, contact your vet.
2007-03-28 09:14:09
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answer #10
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answered by Carrie K 3
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