How to Tell a Horse's Age by Its Teeth

 tall than wide. This is where the saying "long in the tooth" comes

 from, because as the angle increases, so does that length from the gum line to chewing surface. The teeth also change in shape from oval to more angular as the horse ages. The color of the teeth will probably be quite yellowed and stained.

At some point after their late 20s, a horse may start losing teeth. Horse's teeth don't grow for their whole lives but have a lifespan of their own. A domestic horse may outlive the lifespan of its teeth. As

 the horse loses more teeth, its health may suffer. It may be less able to

 chew tougher hays and grasses and require a diet tailored for older horses.

Extra Horse Teeth

Some horses may grow wolf teeth and tushes or canines. These are extra teeth that grow in the toothless bar of the horse's mouth between

 the front teeth and back. Sometimes these teeth may have to be removed if they interfere with the bit or cause discomfort for the horse. These teeth usually come in by the time the horse is five years of age. Some horses will not have them at all, or for some, they may