LECTURE LXV. 



FEED, CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. 



The proper feeding, care and management of the stallion 

 is a most vital point. Perhaps more mistakes are made in 

 this connection than in any other kind of horse management. 



One of the most frequent mistakes made by inexperi- 

 enced persons, and even by many who think that they know 

 all about this subject, is the endeavor to keep the stallion 

 in fine show condition all the time, and especially at the 

 opening of the breeding season. To this end drugs and nos- 

 trums are oftentimes used. The horse is kept carefully 

 housed and closely blanketed; he is loaded with fat; his 

 muscles become soft and flabby for want of exercise, and 

 although he may come at the beginning of the season appar- 

 ently in the pink of show yard condition, he is not nearly 

 so well fitted for service in the stud as he would have been 

 had this fitting been entirely eliminated. 



One of the very first principles in the preparation of the 

 stallion is that a healthy horse does not require any medi- 

 cine whatever to put him in condition for the stud. The 

 whole secret of successful preparation lies in a few words. 

 Let him be well and regularly fed on healthy, nutritious 

 food, with plenty of exercise every day to keep his muscles 

 firm and hard, with plenty of grooming so that his coat may 

 present a fine appearance. The skin should be kept thor- 

 oughly clean by occasional washing and frequent brushing and 

 grooming. The mane and tail should be kept clean and thor- 

 oughly brushed out. If very dirty, use soap in the cleaning 

 process; and when this is properly attended to there will be 

 but little danger of having fine tail or mane ruined by 

 rubbing. 



The ration should be mainly good, sound oats, as noth- 

 ing is better. It may be varied somewhat from time to time 

 by an occasional ration of corn or barley for variety sake. 

 A change of diet at times seems to have a favorable influ- 

 ence on the health of the animal. Wheat bran is a most 



