Foals begin to show teeth within a couple weeks of birth. Between the ages of two and five years, baby teeth begin to shed and are replaced by permanent teeth. The horse has at least thirty-six permanent teeth — twelve incisors and twenty-four molars — and some horses have four wolf teeth (essentially premolars) and four canine teeth (behind the incisors). Because wolf teeth can interfere with the bit's placement in the mouth, they are usually removed.

Figure 9.2 (a): One Year

Figure 9.2 (b): Five Years

Figure 9.2 (c): Fifteen Years