TREATMENT OF FOALS 77 



minutes, after which they are taken to their boxes, where 

 .they generally lie down. At about 8.30 a.m. they are worked 

 at liberty in the manege or they go to the paddock, or later 

 on to the steppe, which is equivalent to the South African 

 veldt y and may be defined as a woodless plain. Those that are 

 exercised at liberty in the school, are afterwards led about for 

 fifteen to twenty minutes, so as to cool down. They are then 

 taken back to their boxes, groomed, and left to rest. 



Up to ist October, the colts and fillies go together, and 

 are boxed in pairs of the same sex. The entires are separated 

 as soon as they begin to fight. 



From ist October, the quantity of oats is gradually 

 augmented from 9 to 16 Ibs. It is found that if the half- 

 breds get as much corn as the thoroughbreds, they become 

 fat and their muscles become imperfectly developed. Both 

 the thoroughbred trotters and thoroughbred saddle horses 

 stand corn well. From ist March, the daily ration of oats 

 is reduced to 9 Ibs. ; but carrots are given, so as to accustom 

 the youngsters to graze in the open. We must here bear in 

 mind that the ground at this time is covered with snow or 

 ice. From 23rd April to ist June, they are turned out on 

 the steppe, so as to obtain full advantage of the delicious and 

 wholesome green grass that springs up at that time, during 

 which there are no flies. For that period, these yearlings 

 get no oats. From ist June, oats are allowed in increasing 

 quantities from 4^ Ibs. to 9 Ibs. Their breaking for trap 

 work is begun when they are eighteen to twenty months old, 

 and is completed in a month or six weeks. After that, they 

 are again sent to the steppe with men who act as cow-boys, 

 to be exercised and watered. The saddle horses get the 

 same feeding and breaking as the thoroughbred trotters, but 

 the half-breds are not broken until a year later. 



With reference to the question of feeding foals on the milk 

 of cows, it is interesting to note that this milk is much more 



