Livestock* Horfes Method of Cujl rating Management of. 713 



Some of the Yorkfhire breeders, however, think that they find advantage in de 

 ferring the operation till the horfes are two years old, as they fuppofe (f they become 

 ftronger and handfomer for it.&quot; And where the operation is done at one year old 

 they find that the foals have not recovered the check they fuftained by weaning 

 before they experience another in this operation. They experience no more 

 difference in their recovery at two years old than one. The foals fliould be kept 

 up fome time before the gelding is to be performed. 



In performing the operation the bed method is that of cutting open the fcrotum 

 or cod, with a fharp knife for the purpofe, dividing the fpermatic cords and veffels, 

 taking out the tefticles, and then fecuring them by means of ligatures, clofing the 

 wound immediately, the ends of the ligatures being left out at fome part, fo that 

 they may be drawn away as fuppuration advances. This is much better than the 

 old practice of fearing with a hot iron, or the more recent one of caufing the fepa- 

 ration of the fcrotum and tefticles by Iwitcbing or tying them tight with a fmall 

 firing. 



In the breaking of horfes there is feldom much trouble if the bufinefs be well 

 managed, and undertaken fufficiently early. In farm-horfes the beft method in. 

 probably that of haltering the foal as foon as it is taken from the mare, leading it 

 from place to place till it becomes perfectly quiet and manageable ; then to have it 

 tied in the ftall, and cleaned in the manner of the other horfes, accuftomingitto have 

 its feet taken up and cleaned when necefiary. Thefe methods fhould be continued 

 tillit becomes perfectly tractable ; it may then be put into the middle of the team 

 in proper harnefs, fo as that it may be forced about by the other horfes, without 

 having any thing to draw. When it is quite gentle in this fituation it may be 

 backed, if that has not been done before. In order to give it a mouth, a fmall bit 

 mould be let hang loofe in its mouth till it becomes accuftomed to it, and then it 

 may be managed in any way at pleafure, being taught not only to walk, but trot, 

 and even gallop well. In this treatment it foon becomes perfectly tractable and fit 

 for any ufe on the farm. 



In making young horfes, as two-year old colts, up for fale in the autumn, the 

 Yorklhire breeders turn them into good grafs, taking them up about a week before 

 the period of felling to reduce the carcafe, improve the coat, and teach them to 

 lead. They aremoftly difpofed of to fale with their full tails. Mames of bran, 

 ground oats, and boiled corn, are then given them by thefe perfons for two or three 

 VOL. ii. 4 Y 



