CASTRATION 



491 



Young Blood stock, in properly fenced, high, wooden- 

 railed paddocks, usually take sufficient exercise by galloping 

 for amusement in rivalry with one another, as young grey- 

 hounds do. The ordinary fence of six or eight plain wires is 

 most dangerous for a young horse. While rubbing against it, 

 he is liable to put a fore or a hind leg through it and become 

 entangled in the wires, which cut to the bone as he struggles 

 to get free. A safe and effective guard is found in a single 

 barbed wire stretched on each side about 2 feet from the 



FIG. 29. COLT PREPARED TO BE THROWN BY SIDE ROPES. 

 From Galvayne's Twentieth Century Book on the Horse. 



fence, the height of a horse's breast, and supported by strong 

 4-feet crossbars, about a rood apart, fastened to the main 

 standards carrying the wires. 



Castration is usually performed when a colt is about 

 one year old, a time when there is little risk ; or it may be 

 done at two years, if a well-developed crest and a more 

 masculine appearance is wanted. In some districts of 

 England from four to six weeks old is considered a safer 

 and better time. A horse is rendered hardier by castration 

 for racing and hunting and all classes of fast work. The 



