Missouri Draft Horse Breeders'" Association. 515 



will be available, not only during the gestation period and^dur- 

 ing the time she is suckling the foal, but he should also be in a 

 position to so feed his colts during the first year that they may 

 be able to form large, ivory-like bones, strong ligaments and 

 tendons that have the capacity of withstanding sudden jars and 

 strains. The stunted frame of a yearling will never expand 

 properly by any system of later feeding. 



Few foals get too much feed. He should be encouraged to 

 eat early, and when he begins to nibble at the mare's feed then 

 put up a low feed box just out of reach of the mare and feed him 

 regularly. A mixture of crushed oats and bran is a good feed 

 during the summer and early fall. 



The foal must be encouraged to eat, exercise, rest and 

 grow. If the mare is turned to pasture, exercise and rest are 

 provided naturally. Though grass is provided, the foal should 

 get grain once or twice a day either in a creep in the lot or be 

 fed in the barn. Though our pastures are good during part of 

 the season, we cannot compete with Europe in raising horses on 

 pasture alone, for there the humid atmosphere keeps the grass 

 fresh and green through the growing season. If the mare must 

 work, keep the foal in a ventilated, well-lighted stall, a well- 

 fenced lot or paddock. The colt should not follow the mare at 

 work. While the foal is suckling the mare her feed must be 

 intelligently chosen. She should not be given too rich feed, 

 turned too suddenly to pasture, or brought in too hot and tired 

 to her hungry colt. If care is not taken trouble will surely fol- 

 low. A good, strong digestion is an absolute essential in a foal. 

 Therefore, an evenly regulated supply of milk, uniform in qual- 

 ity and quantity, is needed. The way to secure this is to regu- 

 late the feed of the mare, avoiding sudden changes of any kind 

 and shielding her from too much exhaustive work. 



Probably the best feed for the mare is oats, bran, clover or 

 alfalfa hay or pasture, with possibly a pound of oil meal daily. 

 The mare and her foal should have access to water and salt 

 whenever possible. 



When five to five and one-half months old the colt should 

 be weaned. At this time the foal should be eating grass or hay 

 and a mixture of oats and bran, or a mixture of corn, oats and 

 bran. The corn and oats should be ground, at the present high 

 price of feed. 



Draft foals that are doing well gain from three to four 

 pounds per day up to weaning time. Colts sired by 2,000- 



