help with ageing my horse please???

[VickyH]

Hi, I bought my mare just under a week ago, her passport states DOB as 1998 but next to that someone has added in pencil 7 years ?? does this mean she was seven in 1998 ?? I know ageing them by their teeth isn't entirely accurate espacially when they get to her age - be it 12 or 20!! Sorry about the quality of the pics but it's hard to get a good one while trying to hold her mouth open and operate the camera by myself All opinions welcome! (The missing tooth is from a previous injury)
Thank you in advance!

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/picture.php?albumid=2274&pictureid=12221[IMG]
[IMG]http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/picture.php?albumid=2274&pictureid=12220

 

[Damnation]

Is it worth getting the dentist out and getting him to see if he can approximate her age?
Also do you have contact details in her passport for the stud she was born at etc? Might be worth tracking them down?

 

[fburton]

I'd say that's a pretty old set of teeth - more like 20 than 12 (from the angle and amount of wear). But I would get the dentist out anyway, to see if anything needs done.

 

[Milanesa]

I would say teens not much older as there is not much angle on the teeth and they are stI'll fairly short. Can't tell re galvines groove but I would say early teens not 20 odd x

 

[Auslander]

The Galvaynes groove appears to be in the bottom half of the tooth only. After 20, the groove disappears at the gumline, so one that only shows in the bottom half of the tooth would indicate that the horse is 25+. Hard to tell from the pics though, and I wouldn't like to put my hand on my heart and say this without seeing the rest of the horse. Gums look quite receded as well. Are you sure it's the correct passport?

 

[Brandy]

I would say they are an old set of teeth - they look in a worse state than my 30 yr olds!! Saying that, his are very good for his age and have been well tended to. I woul dhave vet/dentist look at them, they will give you an estimate.

 

[Auslander]

Just found this for you - quite a good clear explanation and diagram
http://www.netplaces.com/horse-care/systems-of-the-horses-body/the-horses-teeth.htm

 

[VickyH]

I have the vet coming out next monday anyway to give her a general check over
Definately her passport, she is grey and white and the markings match hers perfectly. I have managed to find some history on her, a lady who sold her 2 years ago found me on facebook and said she's had the vet confirm her age which would make her 13 now - she has no reason to lie as it wasn't her who sold me the horse but it would be nice to hear it from a vet myself!

 

[fburton]

The Galvaynes groove appears to be in the bottom half of the tooth only. After 20, the groove disappears at the gumline, so one that only shows in the bottom half of the tooth would indicate that the horse is 25+. Hard to tell from the pics though, and I wouldn't like to put my hand on my heart and say this without seeing the rest of the horse. Gums look quite receded as well. Are you sure it's the correct passport?

Yes, I agree it's very hard to tell from the photo. Galvayne's groove isn't always easy to see and isn't a particularly reliable indicator anyway (or so I was told at the ageing tutorial at Glasgow Vet School). Anyway, it will be good to hear what the vet thinks!