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ON THE LIVE-STOCK

FART III.

HORSES *.

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In all cultivated districts horses are much less the creaturesof soil and climate than cattle or sheep. The same kind oflabour, though different in degree, is required from all horseskept for the purposes of agriculture; and the food necessaryfor enabling them to perform this labour is provided bymeans ol cultivation, The husbandry horses of Scotland cannot be divided into a number of distinct breeds orraces ; they are chiefly distinguished by their size, whichmust be somewhat different according to the labour theyhave to perform, and, in particular, to the nature of the soil,the acclivity of the surface, and the number of distant car-riages. Their form also requires to be a little varied to suitthe different purposes of strength and activity. Farmers whobreed horses choose the males and females which promisesuch an offspring, as each in his own particular situation con-

* The general name of the male is stone-horse or stallion, or simply horse ;and when castrated he is called a gelding. When sucking he is a colt-foal ; thena yearling colt ; afterwards a two or three-years-old colt, until four, when he ismost commonly called a horse.

The female is called a mare; when sucking, a mare or filly-foal ; then ayearling filly i afterwards, a two or three-years-old filly ; and at four has thename of mare.

Horses have twelve fore-teeth, six in the upper, and six in the lower jaw.Their age may be known by the teeth of the under jaw in particular. Betweenthe age of 2 f and 3 years a horse casts trvo fore-teeth above and trvo below ;from 3 J to 4 years, he casts 4 more ; and between and 5 years, he casts theremaining 4, which are called the corner teeth. The black speck in the cornerteeth commonly remains till the age of 7 or 8 years, after which the tusks mustbe consulted, in order to judge of the age, which cannot, however, be accuratelydetermined, after the speck or bean is worn out.