WEANING FOALS . 225 



increased, and so long as the allowance is continued and the balance of 

 health upheld a vigorous growth is provoked and maintained — in other 

 words the animal is " forced ". It is in this way that many of the foals 

 and yearlings that take champion rank at our various shows are built 

 up. But how many fall victims by the way, and fail to realize the 

 hopes and aspirations of the too ambitious owner, is only known even 

 approximately to those whose business calls them to minister to the 

 unfortunates. 



Diseased feet, overshot joints, bog-spavins, and wind-galls, to say 

 nothing of the constitutional break-down which sometimes follows upon 

 a discontinuance of the milk diet, are the too common consequences of 

 this hurrying treatment. 



It is not the intention of the writer to condemn the use of cow's milk 

 in the rearing of foals where circumstances call for it, but to caution the 

 breeder against its abuse, for when the ailments indicated above are 

 brought into existence by this forcing system, they not only occasion 

 immediate disappointment, but frequently continue, and result in deteriora- 

 tion and loss. 



WEANING FOALS 



The longer a foal can have the easily assimilable milk of its dam the 

 better horse it will make. But for various reasons mares are but seldom 

 permitted to wean their own foals, partly because they are required to take 

 part in the work of the farm or to be used for riding or driving purposes, 

 and partly also because they have again been put to the horse and are 

 building up another foetus. Although these sevei'al duties are capable of 

 being performed within certain limits without ill effects either to parent or 

 progeny, when pushed too far they are likely to prejudice the health of 

 both. As the foetus of the pregnant mare increases in size and attains to 

 higher development, suckling can only be carried on at a disadvantage to 

 the former, and a heavy drain on the nutritive resources of the latter. 



Foals are usually weaned about September or October, when they are 

 five or six months old. At this period of the year, nights are getting cold 

 and damp, pastures are on the wane, the milk-supply is falling away, and 

 if the mare has been to service her foetus has made considerable growth 

 and requires all her support. 



Where, as the result of constitutional weakness or debility, from back- 

 ward growth or any other cause, it is considered desirable that the foal 

 should continue with the dam for an extended period, then both should l)e 

 allowed an ample supply of corn and chaff, and any demand that is being 

 made on the mare in regard to work should cease. 



