horse teeth

[mlm]

we have a new pony on the yard. it has about 4 to 5 teeth along the top and the same on the bottom they are very small. it also has two little ones coming up behind the bit path. this horse is meant to be 5yo as this is what its passport says but it has no markings in the passport!!!. it appears to be very immature in all ways. do you think it could be younger.

 

[lizzieuk1]

sounds like he may still have his baby teeth, as a 4yo they should be almost a full set at the front with just the outer 2 bottom teeth ready to change, if they are all still the baby ones then chances are he is def younger than that, prob only 3, the little ones behind the bit path are his tushes, remnent of our canines common in males. if he's not got a microchip or other id then best to take things carefully until you're more certain of his age.

 

[kcgibson]

its difficult to say without actually seeing the teeth as it depends how far up the tooth the groove has developed. If nobody else can help you in the mean time, i will ask a vet at work tomorrow and let you know if you like? pm me if u want me to find out. My vet has told me in the past and as i remember:
Horses have a groove on the surface of the tooth (down the middle of the tooth as you're looking at the teeth head on). This groove starts at the base of the tooth and develops up towards the biting surface. Starting with the tooth in the middle, at 2 1/2 years old, the groove will have developed from the base, to the biting surface. At 3 1/2 years old, the next tooth along (working from the middle tooth outwards) will have a fully developed groove, at 4 1/2 this will be true of the next tooth along. I think then they have a fifth tooth (altho im not too sure) and if so, then the same rule regarding the groove will apply and so you could age the horse at 5 1/2. It is possible to age a horse fairly accurately via their teeth until around 8 years old, after that it is more guess work.
I hope this helps altho if im wrong and anyone else knows better, please post!! As i say, i can check at work tomorrow if nobody else can provide a definite answer, but i think what i have told you is correct.