122 Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 



the cribs must be made with close bottoms, so that the oats which 

 are shed do not get lost. 



The practice of chopping, mixing, and scalding the food has 

 much to recommend it from an economical point of view, but it 

 must be done with caution and with judgment. In rearing colts 

 we must endeavour to develop fully all of their natural faculties. 

 The power of masticating and digesting their food is an all-impor- 

 tant faculty. If we attempt to do it for them by artificial means 

 we do not encourage the animals to cultivate the power of exer- 

 cising their faculties; and, as is well known, faculties not used will 

 remain undeveloped and will degenerate, so that after generations 

 of pail -fed colts have been reared in luxury, a toothless horse might 

 be produced, which would want all its food chewed, cooked, and 

 specially treated for a weak stomach. It is, of course, during colt- 

 hood that the natural faculties are improved or impaired. We 

 have an object lesson when we compare the teeth of the present 

 civilized races of mankind, accustomed to living on cooked food 

 and prepared artificial food, with the teeth of the uncivilized savage, 

 who lives a natural (or what we would consider unnatural) life. 

 We do not want to create a necessity for horse dentists, so that 

 prepared food for growing colts must be used with caution. 



The feet of the colts must also be watched; if standing much of 

 their time on the accumulated litter and manure the hoofs may 

 grow abnormally and lose consistency. The colts in the paddock 

 are not so liable to go wrong in their feet as are those in a box or 

 yard on straw litter. But all colts want attention, and if there is 

 any tendency to erratic growth a visit to the blacksmith and a little 

 judicious paring and rasping will greatly help in the development 

 of a well-shaped hoof It is important at those times to encourage 

 widening of the heel, which may be done by paring the heel and 

 encouraging an outward growth. Sometimes it is necessary to put 

 tips on the toes to prevent undue wear, and to induce a more level 

 planting of the foot on the ground. It is the shelly, quickly-growing 

 hoof that will require most attention. Possibly a case may occur 

 where it is considered advisable to put on a thin, light set of shoes 

 to prevent the hoof from cracking and breaking. These shoes, 

 however, should be frequently removed and the feet dressed. 



The advantage of having had the foals accustomed to the halter 

 will be appreciated now, when they have to visit the blacksmith. 

 Indeed, whether they have to go to the blacksmith or not, it is well, 

 when time permits, to renew their lesson and remind them of their 

 schooling by haltering them about a little. If this is done occa- 

 sionally they will soon become quite tractable, and are much easier 



