Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses i 1 9 



old. If the mare is not in foal again, the foal may be allowed to 

 go on sucking a month or two longer; but if the mare is pregnant 

 it is not desirable to let the foal suck any longer at the expense 

 of his mother and younger brother. If he has been picking at the 

 crib with his mother he will be able to hold his own when turned 

 out in the company of other foals. There is seldom any trouble 

 with the mare's udders at that time; if they are working hard the 

 milk will soon disappear. The teats may be relieved a little by 

 hand stripping. Foals should always have company at weaning 

 time; two or more together will do much better than one by itself, 

 and will sooner forget their mothers. A single foal taken from its 

 mother and kept by itself is greatly to be pitied, and is likely to 

 fret and lose condition. After a few days in a box they may be 

 turned out together if kept out of their mothers' hearing. 



After weaning, foals must not be allowed to sink in condition. 

 Up till this time they have had a happy life; now they lose all at 

 once the mother's milk and the mother's company; the autumn 

 pasturage is getting less nutritious, and the nights are getting 

 longer and colder ; so altogether it is a change for the worse in the 

 life of the foal — a change that may cause a serious check in their 

 growth and development unless carefully guarded against. To 

 some extent we must be guided in our management of weaned 

 foals according to our plans regarding their future destiny. 



If a foal is considered promising enough to keep for stud pur- 

 poses he should be granted a little special treatment and attention, 

 as mentioned already. If, on the other hand, the foal is destined 

 to take his place in the team and assist in the work of the farm 

 during the early part of his life, and ultimately succeed to the work 

 of the streets, a more modified system of rearing may be adopted. 

 Of course all foals should be well fed after weaning, and on through 

 their first winter, with a liberal allowance of oats, bran, and good 

 hay. Until there is plenty of grass for them in the spring, the 

 quantity of corn should be regulated by the character of the pasture 

 and the state of the weather. 



THE GROWING COLT 



To rear young horses successfully they must be kept constantly 

 improving. No check should be allowed if possible. A check in 

 growth or condition is serious, as it entails loss of time, and extra 

 expense recovering that loss. Indeed, the results of a check may 

 be permanent and continue through life. 



The chief objects to aim at are the natural growth of bone and 



