140 



common-place philanthropists, confining their humane attentions on 

 the tail, the ears, or some inconsequential circumstance relative to the 

 animals, think nothing, or to no manner of purpose. 



Foals are weaned on the failure of the autumnal grass, or as we should 

 say agriculturallv, on the commencement of the straw yard; and they 

 should be thenceforth well kept and well sheltered from the inclemency 

 of the ensuing season. Straw yards, stack yards with a run over dry 

 uplands, and sheds or hovels to receive them at will, are their proper 

 winter quarters : their food, hay and corn, in order to bring them to their 

 highest perfection. Hulled oats are allowed by our first-rate breeders, 

 and it is a very old opinion, that the husks of corn are injurious to 

 the teeth of young foals, and that they are apt to swallow the corn 

 whole. Meal with cut hay, is very proper : I have weaned good stock 

 upon fine pollard, oats, straw and carrots. 



Young stock should always be kept tame and gentle, and accustomed 

 to be handled, and to wear the head-stall. In countries where colts have 

 an extensive range, as in America, they are so exceedingly shy, that 

 they sometimes run wild, and at all times, it is matter of great difficulty 

 to approach near them, or to get them home. One method of catching 

 them is the offer of salt, to the sight and smell of which they are ac- 

 customed, by its being allowed to their dams, and it shews what a relish 

 they have of salt, as well as sheep and oxen; but the craving of that 

 article seems not so strong in the animals of this country, although it 

 might be of great use to them, under many circumstances, did not 

 fiscal reasons, too often in opposition to public beneiit, forbid its use. 



It is an old and well-grounded observation^ that the mode of keeping 

 young stock, whether Horses or any other cattle, during the first and 

 second Avinter, determines their form and qualities ever after; for if 

 they shall have been neglected and starved in those critical periods, the 

 most attentive after care, will be but to make the best of a bad market; 

 the superior quaWties they might have possessed, can never be reclaim- 

 ed. In the arrangement and division of the stud, yearlings should not 

 be admitted among the mares and foals, since the mares will frequently 

 suffer the former to suck them. In course, colt foals will afterwards be 

 kept separate and by themselves. 



I hav 



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