212 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



of poor pastures, for the scant supply of grass and milk must be 

 supplemented by grain. 



If there is only a small number of mares, say three or four, in 

 the pasture, the feed boxes may be arranged far enough apart to 

 prevent any fighting. If the number of mares is larger, or there 

 are horses in the pasture for which the increased ration is not de- 

 sired, then the mares should be "taken up" to be fed. It is here 

 that the foal will learn to eat. It has learned to eat grass by run- 

 ning in the pasture with its mother, and will soon learn to nibble 

 grain from the feed box, if given the chance. At first only a small 

 amount of grain will be required to satisfy its appetite, but very 



Fig. 3. Pcicheron stallion Pink, 24756 (47513). Twice champion, at the Inter- 

 national Live Stock Exposition, and now successful sire at Oaklawn Farm, Wayne,' 

 Illinois. Owned by Dunham & Fletcher. 



soon an extra allowance must be made. This should be gradually 

 increased until weaning time. 



Now, if it is necessary for the mare to work while suckling 

 her foal, the proposition will be somewhat different. Having had 

 two or three weeks' rest after foaling, she may be put back into 

 the harness, at first working only at light work, and for a half day 

 at a time. The foal should be allowed to nurse once in the middle 

 of the half day for the first week. While the mare is at work it 

 should be left in a roomy, clean and well lighted stall or paddock, 



