Aging By Teeth – 02 – 5 years (Young Horses)
Reviewing these images is a long process if you go through the whole set. The idea is to notice all the differences and variability seen within each age. Then, as the age becomes greater, notice the increased variability. Also, note that some horses’ left and right sides are different, yielding a different age. The difference is caused by the horse’s tongue movement, jaw movement or both. The image data is the evidence I give for the horse’s age.
- All incisors are baby teeth (deciduous) indicated by their shape and size.
- The central incisors (also called the 01’s) will become loose, displaced, or absent around 2 ½ years (straight view).
- The upper central incisors are usually shed before the lowers. As a result, owners often think their horse was kicked in the teeth.
- The permanent teeth replacing the lost deciduous teeth are more prominent.
- Often the erupting deciduous teeth get shoved out of alignment due to tightly held adjacent deciduous teeth.
- Looking for cups and stars is not done with deciduous teeth at this age.
- Young horses have the most predictable age unless there is a malformation.
I call this group between 2 and 5 years the “young horses.”
⬇︎ Click or tap on any image to fully open it. Swipe or click the arrow to move through the gallery. ⬇︎
2-year-olds
3-year-olds
4-year-olds
5-year-olds
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