THE ITORSE. 373 



be deferred to such time as these requisite developments are 

 secured. Few of the French diligence and farm horses, and 

 scarcely any of the Oriental, are ever castrated. They are 

 thought to be more hardy and enduring; but the slight advan- 

 tage they may possibly possess in this respect, would illy 

 compensate for the trouble and inconvenience arising from 

 their management. The operation should be performed 

 late in the spring or early in autumn, while the weather is 

 mild. If in high condition, the animal must first be bled and 

 physiced. If large and fractious, he must be cast. Some 

 back him into the angle of a worm fence, where he is firmly 

 held by the head with a bridle, and the operator accom- 

 plishes the object, without any trouble or material restiveness 

 from the animal while standing. The scrotum should be 

 opened on both sides and the testicles cut, or rather the cord 

 scraped off, which prevents as much bleeding. The wound 

 may be dressed with a little lard ; then turn him loose in a 

 pasture which has a shelter from sun, wind or rain. Another 

 method of castrating is by torsion or twisting. Docking is 

 practised by many, but merely to gratify an absurd and 

 cruel caprice, without a single advantage, and the animal is 

 better in every respect with the tail unmutilated. If done 

 at all, it should be when young, and with a single stroke of 

 the knife, or chisel and mallet; and if the weather be favora- 

 ble, no further attention is necessary. Nicking. This in- 

 human custom is now getting unfashionable, and we omit 

 any description of it. 



BREAKING While feeding in the stable, the colt should 

 be gently treated, and accustomed to the halter and bit, 

 which prepares him for breaking. If permitted to run with 

 the others while at work, he becomes familiarized to it, and 

 when harnessed by the side of some of his well-trained 

 mates, he considers his discipline rather a privilege than a 

 task. The colt may be taken in hand for breaking at three, 

 and thoroughly broken to light work at four, but should not 

 be put to hard service till six or eight. A due regard to 

 humanity and sound judgment, in thus limiting the burthen 

 in his early years, would save much disease and suffering to 

 the animal and profit the owner, by his unimpaired strength 

 and prolonged life. The annual lo<<s from neglecting this 

 precaution is enormous, which might be entirely avoided, by 

 less eagerness to grasp the substance, while as yet the shadow 

 only is within reach. Many animals are thus broken down 

 at twelve, and are in their dotage at fifteen, while others of 



