458 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



supply of good pure water. Then in the fall begin feeding oats 

 with just a little corn again in time to keep it at all times growing 

 nicely and winter it the second winter pretty much the same as the 

 first. Never let the colts remain out in a cold rain and never let 

 them want for a drink of good pure water. 



The average grade Clydesdale colt out of a good grade dam 

 that will weigh from 1,500 to 1,700 pounds if cared for as above 

 suggested, should come out of the second winter weighing from 

 1,300 to 1,500 pounds, and is then ready to "earn his living by the 

 sweat of his brow" and a reasonable amount of work at this age 

 will not hurt him in the least. I would advise breeding the big 

 growthy mare at two years old but late enough in the season that 

 she will not foal until the grass is good the following spring. 



Now, I want to say something in regard to the management of 

 heavy horses. Remember that the draft horse was made to draw 

 heavy loads and not for rapid travel over the road. If you must 

 go in a hurry take a horse that was built for fast work, or else go 

 in your automobile, for it is just as unreasonable to expect the 

 draft horse to do fast road work as it is to expect the road horse 

 to draw a load that was intended for a draft horse. A draft horse 

 should never be driven faster than a walk except for short distances 

 when he is needing exercise. 



The Clydesdale is a most willing and faithful servant if prop- 

 erly handled. It is not necessary to employ an expert to break, 

 train or develop him. His natural disposition is to be gentle, and 

 if you have never abused him, all that is required to break him to 

 work is to put the harness on and let him get used to wearing them, 

 then teach him to start and to stop at your command ; he will then 

 be ready to hitch to the wagon and if you will watch that he doesn't 

 get frightened at the noise of the wagon, in a very little while he 

 will begin to adjust himself to the new conditions and you will be 

 surprised to see how fast he learns and how nicely he handles. 

 But because he is gentle, don't get the mistaken idea that he is a 

 "deadhead" or a "dummy" and strike him with the ends of the 

 lines without first even speaking to him when you want him to go, 

 like some men do when driving mules. The mule might forget or 

 make you think he had forgotten until he got a chance for revenge, 

 but the sensitive horse will not forget and if you continue giving 

 him ill treatment you will soon have a ruined horse. 



You do not need a "blacksnake" whip to drive a Clydesdale — 

 just remember that he must learn what you want him to do before 



