FOR THE FARM, ROAD, OR FIELD. 127 



sheltered pasture field, thus gradually preparing them to remain 

 on the pastures through the night, whenever the weather will 

 admit. Once out let them remain through the season, giving 

 them the run of the best grazing, well-watered and sheltered, 

 that the farm can affard. As a rule, little or no more trouble is 

 requisite till weaning time. It will be in the recollection of 

 many seeing the foal as a common occurrence following its dam 

 in the cart, doing her regular work ; happily this practice, wbich 

 cannot be too highly condemned, has become nearly a thing of 

 the past ; still many yet work the mare a few hours, the foal 

 being shut up in the house, which is only admissible on the 

 most urgent occasions. It need scarcely be pointed out how 

 detrimental to the foal such practices must prove. The mare is 

 most certain to get heated, either through her exertions or 

 excitement, for want of her offspring, most probably both ; the 

 foal when getting to its dam, drinks greedily of the heated milk, 

 which invariably excites the bowels in a greater or less degree, 

 and checks its onward progress ; the foal should be weaned at 

 the end of six months, the dam shut up in a loose box for a 

 few days on dry food, when the milk will quickly disperse if 

 she be occasionally milked, the foal being allowed to roam 

 through the day with a companion, such also being desirable 

 through the night, giving them a comfortable roomy loose box, 

 supplying the racks with some well got hay, tlie mangers 

 with a handful of oats, w^hich they will soon begin to munch 

 and learn to eat greedily. Without loss of time the youngster 

 should now have the halter put upon him ; it is an excellent 

 practice to have a little collar put on, with just enough leather 

 shank to catch securely with the hand ; when a few days old, it 

 can then be led about in the box, or by the side of its dam, 

 whenever she has occasion to go out ; this they never forget, and 

 it saves immense trouble and risk when they come to be tied 

 up. With well bred blood horses especially this practice should 

 prevail, tliey being more determined and active when they come 

 to be handled. Wlien they can be safely left tied for the night, 

 they should have the privilege of a stall to themselves, thus 

 securing to each the due share of food provided. Exercise is 

 most essential for the growing animal, therefore, no matter what 

 the weather may be, let them go out every day — of course only 

 for a short time should the weather be excessively stormy, but 

 if at all moderate from an hour or two after sunrise till sunset ; 

 three pounds of good oats given morning and evening, to which 

 may l>e added a good sized carrot cut into small pieces, until 

 they acquire a taste for them, after which the carrots (or swede 

 turnips where carrots are not to be had) may be given whole, 

 when they will break and relish them immensely. This, with 

 a service for supper of about the third of a pail of turnips, light 



