HORSES 133 



from work. The mare, however, should not be worked too 

 hard. She should not become very warm from her work. 

 And when she comes in from work with an udder full of milk 

 part of this should be milked out before she is turned in with 

 the colt. 



The Colt. — A colt may be weaned when it is from four to 

 six months old and then should be fed as all young animals 

 should be fed. It is a growing animal, so should have alfalfa, 

 clover, or pea hay, wheat bran or oil meal for protein. Then it 

 should have oats or oats and corn mixed as a concentrate with 

 all the water it needs and plenty of salt and other minerals. 

 Exercise should not be forgotten at this time as this is one of 

 the most important factors in the life of the colt. A good 

 pasture makes excellent feed. 



The horse colts, except such pure breds as may be reserved 

 for breeding purposes, are as a rule castrated when they are 

 one or two years old. If castrated at the younger age, they 

 give less trouble in handling and there is less loss in case one 

 should die as a result of the operation. But if they are allowed 

 to reach the age of two years before castration they are thought 

 to develop a little more w^eight in the front quarter and develop 

 more '^life" and ambition. 



The Sire. — The stallion that is selected to be used upon one's 

 mares should be of the very best. He should possess all the 

 good points to the highest degree and should be entirely free 

 from all unsoundness, such defects as spavin, ringbone, curb, 

 sidebones, defective eyes, etc. They are defects that are 

 likely to be transmitted to the offspring. 



Blemishes are simply scars such as wire cuts that may mar 

 the looks of a horse or injure his capacity for work, but they 

 are not transmissible characteristics. 



