158 The Management of Light Horses 



about twelve months old. I sent it to the sale with instructions 

 that it was not to come back, I got 12 gs. for it. I would have 

 taken four. I had three bids in the morning, and would have sold 

 it, but gambled on the sale. Now, the same meat and trouble 

 would have reared a vearling worth four times the money. 



The first winter is a crucial time for a young horse. With 

 respect to shelter, the happy medium should be hit upon. In the 

 south I know young horses are turned out all winter, and even lie 

 out at nights. Though I do not believe in coddling and making 

 hothouse plants of young horses, I do not approve of that plan in 

 our variable climate. I think it essential for a horse's wellbeing 

 and future development that his back should be dry sometimes. 

 It is also much easier to notice what progress he is making when 

 he is brought in at nights. 



The best sort of building to put foals and yearlings, and indeed 

 all young horses in, is, in my opinion, a roomy covered-in fold yard, 

 which should be well watered. The young horses should be sorted 

 according to age, and care should be taken, if there are three or four 

 young horses together, that there is not what they call in York- 

 shire an " under lout " amongst them ; that is, that the majority of 

 them do not combine to push a weaker one from the manger and 

 the rack till they have satisfied their greed. If there is one of this 

 sort amongst them a watchful eye will soon discover it, and it is 

 easier discovered under cover, where men are constantly passing 

 about, than in the pastures. For if the foals are turned out in the 

 pasture for their first winter they must have something in the way 

 of hand meat given them if they are to do any good. Nothing is 

 more pitiable nor more fatal to success than to see a foal losing 

 during the winter the bloom he had got in the summer, and repeat- 

 ing the process year after year. 



Need I say that mouldy, bad hay should never be given to 

 young horses? I am afraid it is necessary to say it, and that on 

 many farms it will continue to be given unless the master keeps 

 a very sharp lookout. Many a time I have heard the expression 

 used, " It is good enough for them ; they have not to work," the 

 speaker being of course utterly oblivious of the fact that the mouldy 

 trash he was giving them was probably making them unable to do 

 the severe work they would be called upon to do some day, and 

 certainly lowering their value. If, unfortunately, as sometimes 

 happens, there is not any good hay, or what comes to the same 

 thing practically from the standpoint of the young horse, there is 

 none to spare, it is better to give no hay at all, but to mix chopped 

 wheat straw up with the bruised oats instead. Some people give 



