(568 ■ REAnTNC-CnUKSF. FOR F.\RMF.RS. 



" open the heels." Keep the walls rounded at the ground surface, the 

 toe short and the frog prominent. 



Horses become unsound of limb when the wear and tear is not equally 

 distributed, as certain parts bear an undue amount of weight. Equal 

 distribution of weight-bearing and other functional activities is possible 

 only when the form of the foot and the direction of the limb are correct. 

 Any deviation from the proper standing position will cause a propor- 

 tionate overtaxing of certain parts, resulting in unsoundness. 



Sound feet are best produced by feeding nutritious food. Sudden 

 changes of the food, periods of sickness, exposure to cold, damp weather 

 for months at a time, all have an injurious effect on the feet. Hence, 

 the colt should be fed regularly and generously, be well sheltered and 

 be protected as much as possible against the ravages of disease. 



Castrating the male foal 



There is a great difference of opinion regarding the best time to castrate 

 the male foal. The work to which the colt is to be put as well as the 

 nature of the individual are factors to be considered. The longer he is 

 left entire, the more masculine in appearance he will be. Animals that 

 are castrated young seldom develop an attractive head and neck. The 

 longer he is left entire, the heavier and stronger his head, neck and 

 shoulders will become, the more courageous he will be. Hence if the 

 colt is rather undeveloped about the head and neck and rather timid 

 in his nature, he may be left entire six months or even a year longer 

 than the one that is over-developed and inclined to be vicious. 



It is customary to castrate the foal when he is between one and two 

 years of age. If let go too long he becomes " staggy " in appearance. 

 It frequently is desirable to castrate a stallion after he has performed 

 services in a stud, but many owners are deterred from doing so from the 

 mistaken idea as to the dangers of the operation and its probable effect 

 upon the temperament of the horse. The idea that castrating a horse 

 will make him lazy and sluggish is entirely erroneous. As for the dam- 

 ages, they are slight, for the castration of a horse at any age is a sim- 

 ple operation and no bad results need be expected when the operation 

 is performed by a qualified practitioner. 



Management of the colt 

 Weanlings should have snug quarters during their first winter. Pre- 

 ferably, put two of them in a box-stall, feed them ground oats and 

 bran, one-fifth bran by weight, to which a little oil meal has been added 

 to keep them in good physical condition. Feed all they will clean up 



