Page 101 - The Mini Horse Magazine 2023 No 1

as the horse ages it becomes more rounded and
moves to the center of the tooth. The dental star
will appear in the central incisors at 8 years of
age, intermediates at 9 years, and corners at 10
years.

The shape of the grinding surface, amount of
tooth seen below the gum line, and angle of the
teeth change with age. A horse under 9 years
of age will have a rectangular grinding surface,
a horse from 9 years to mid-teens will have a
more rounded grinding surface, while a horse
in its later teens or older will have a triangular
surface.

The younger horse will show a shorter tooth
visible below the gum line, while a term used
for the older horse is “long in the tooth” due to
more visible tooth. When viewed from the side
with lips parted, the young horse will exhibit
a more vertical alignment to the incisors,
The younger horse while an older horse will have more of an
will show a shorter angle with a more protruded appearance.
tooth visible below
the gum line, while a A more subtle indicator that can assist
term used for the older with aging the horse over 10 years of age
horse is “long in the is the Galvayne’s Groove. This is a groove
tooth” due to more that appears near the gum line of the
visible tooth. corner incisor. It begins at the center of the

outer surface of the tooth in a 10-year-old. At
15 years the groove extends halfway down the
tooth; at 20 years it extends the entire length of
tooth; at 25 years the upper half of the groove is
Once all permanent teeth are present, other gone so a groove appears only in the bottom half;
indicators assist with determining age. On the and at 30 years the groove is completely gone.
grinding surface of the incisors, a cup is seen Another subtle indicator on the same corner
as an indented area with a dark center in the tooth is the 7- and 11-year hook. As the mouth
middle of each tooth. The cups disappear from changes shape the rear of the top and bottom
the bottom central incisors at 6 years of age, corner incisors may not meet, allowing for a
the intermediates at 7 years and the corners hook to form on the top incisor. The first time this
at 8 years. The top incisors lose the cups from hook appears is during the 7-year-old year and it
central to corners at 9, 10, and 11 years of age, will disappear at 9 years of age. It will reappear
respectively. The term “smooth mouthed horse” at 11 years of age and may remain through the
applies to a horse 12 years of age or older when mid-teens. These guidelines for aging by dental
all cups are gone, and the grinding surface is wear can vary depending on what the horse is
smooth. Next to appear on the grinding surface eating and on vices. For example, horses that
of the incisors is a dental star or yellowish- crib can wear down the top incisors, interfering
colored spot. It appears more toward the front with normal dental wear. While all horses do
of the teeth (closer to the lips) than the cups. At not follow the rules, these guidelines can be
first this star is rectangular in appearance, but useful tools in evaluating a horse’s age.

Miniature Horse Magazine • Issue 1/2023 | 101