Livestock* Horfes Rearing of. 731 



be checked from the want of milk while young. When taken from the mares at 

 firft,it is a very good method to let them have an open roomy houfe with a rack and 

 box for their food; and if it communicate with a fmall field or paddock, into which 

 they can run, it is of great advantage in the rearing of the foals, both in the way of 

 food and exercife, as they mould never be too much confined. By being more at 

 liberty they become not only more ilrong and healthy, but acquire more and a bet 

 ter a6lion, which is effential in the horfe. 



The dry food mould at firft confift of the niceft and moft fweet hay of what- 

 ever fort it may be. Sweet green rouen, where it can be provided, might be very 

 ufeful in this intention. Carrots are likewife found an extremely beneficial fort 

 of food in the rearing of foals. It has indeed been thought fcarcely pofTible to 

 breed horfes to any profit without a confiderable dependence upon them.* Their 

 laxative property isalfo fuppofed by fome highly beneficial in the raifing of foals, j 1 

 With thefe forts of food it is neccfiary always to make ufeof oats and bran, or pol 

 lard, in fuitable proportions, as it is only by thefe means that thefe young animals 

 can be brought forward in the bed manner. When there is fufticient grafs in 

 the fpring, it is a proper practice to turn the foals out into a convenient dry paf- 

 ture, where there is rather a Ihort fweet bite, and a good fupply of pure water for 

 them to drink at as often as they like. In the fecond winter lefs care will be requir 

 ed than in the firft ; but the fame indulgence, in refpecl to the liberty of their go 

 ing in and out of the fhed at pleafure from the field, mould be allowed. In this 

 mode of rearing foals they will become ufeful at two years old when intended for 

 the work of the farm, and if for fale be in acondiiion to fetch a good price ; which 

 would not be the cafe if they were kept in an inferior way. But there is another 

 circumftance to be taken into the account, which is, that it is this variation in the 

 keep that conftitutes the difference between a good and bad horfe ; which, as it 

 chiefly confifts in the addition of the oatSj is no very great affair, at leaft upon good 

 horfes, whether for faddle or work. Upon horfes of low value it will not 

 probably repay the breeder to befrow this fort of keep upon them. It can fcldorn 

 be advifable for farmers to purfuc it in horfes that are worth lefs than from twen. 

 ty-five to thirty pounds at four years old ; where oats are made ufe of as a part 

 of the food of young horfes, care mould be taken that they arc really given to 

 them. 



% 



* Annals of Agriculture, vol. XXXIV. -f FA-pcrienccd Fanhrr, vol. -If; 



