Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 127 



six head in all. The four five-year-olds would be expected to realize 

 ;^30O, which would be profit on the horse department. 



Another farmer would probably work the same size of a farm 

 with twelve seasoned horses able to do a full day's work. To keep 

 up this stud he would probably have to buy two every year and 

 dispose of two worn-out and old ones, which would probably result 

 in ;^ioo against the horse department. The one man would be 

 employing eighteen horses to do his work, besides keeping eight 

 youngsters, and gaining ;iiJ^30o; the other would be employing 

 twelve horses, and losing ;i^ioo on them. The first farmer would 

 thus have about ^^400 extra for keeping the extra number of 

 horses. Probably his risks would be greater in a breeding stud 

 than in a working stud, and of course his capital invested would 

 be greater; but as most, if not all, of the horses' food would be 

 grown on the farm and obtained at the cheapest rate, ;^400 appears 

 fairly good pay for the keep of fourteen extra horses. In other 

 words, it is finding a profitable market for a quantity of the farm 

 produce, besides making extra manure, and having the benefit of 

 the extra horse strength when a busy time comes on. 



In breaking young colts to work, care must be taken at first 

 that the harness fits properly; the shoulders must not be allowed 

 to get sore, or it may daunt a colt and make a bad puller of him. 

 When the harness is put on at first it must be done quietly, so that 

 he is not startled or frightened. The harness and chains must be 

 strong, so that they will stand a sudden jerk; it is when breakages 

 occur that accidents are likely to happen. The colts may have 

 half a day's work all through the winter when weather permits; 

 then, when the busy work of spring comes on, they will be steadied 

 and seasoned, able to do a full day's work, and to keep up with 

 the other teams. Of course a good manager will arrange the work 

 so that the colts will have the lighter jobs, and the older horse 

 have the heavier work of shafting, drilling, rolling, and cultivating. 

 The work of rolling affords an excellent opportunity for getting 

 the colt accustomed to shaft work. After a few days in the roller 

 he will be fit to put in a cart or wagon, and when harvest comes 

 on can take his place and his share of the mowing, reaping, and 

 carting. 



MANAGEMENT OF WORKING HORSES 



The management of the working horses on the farm varies 

 greatly in the different parts of the country. The most general 

 system is to work them in pairs, each ploughman having his two 

 horses to feed, groom, and work. In some districts the wagoner 



