BREEDING. 61 



September are favourable times, as a general rule, for effect- 

 ing tlie separation. If two or more foals are placed together 

 for company or convenience' sake, they should be closely 

 watched, to see that one does not obtain the mastery over 

 the other, and drive it from the corn at feeding-time, hunt it 

 about, &c. Should this take place, it will be far better to 

 separate them at once. 



Dry food should be given to the mare until the secretion 

 of milk has entirely subsided, and, if necessary — i.e., if the 

 vessels appear to be distended — a small quantity of the milk 

 should be drawn off every day. 



Young horses can hardly be handled too earl}'. When I 

 say handled, I mean "gentled," caressed, made accustomed 

 to the presence of man, led about by a rein and head-collar, 

 and, above all, inspired with unbounded confidence in him. 

 Once let this confidence suffer any serious shock, and the 

 work of the past is all undone, and will have to be commenced 

 de novo. No actual work should be done with the colt till 

 he is well past his two-year-old birthday, and then the work 

 should be of the very lightest description. Never be in- 

 duced to put up a boy, on the one hand, or a heavy 

 man on the other, to do the first " backing " of your colt 

 or filly. Boys are ruinous, generally speaking, to the mouths 

 of any horses, young or old, and heavy weights destructive 

 to a youngster's action and shape. A man, if not more 

 than 9st. in weight, patient, and blessed with fine hands, 

 equable temper, and, of course, an undeniable seat, should 

 be selected for the purpose, and an incredibly short space 

 of time will be sufficient to accomplish the task of teaching 

 the young one his preliminary lessons. Horses are always 

 quick enough at learning ; and it should always be borne in 

 mind how retentive are their memories, both for good and 

 evil — perhaps for the latter especially. The breaker should 

 never fall into the common error of making his lessons too 

 long. In addition to the leading about, backing, &c., the 

 colt should be allowed to take as much exercise as it feels 

 inclined for, if the weather be favourable, and — a most 

 important point for the animal's growth and well-being 

 — encouraged to eat corn as much as possible. If you 

 intend making a hunter of him, exercise him on a field of 

 inequalities — such as ridge and furrow, for instance. In fact, 

 for whatever purpose intended, I always think the colt's 



