318 NAVIX ox THE HOESE. 



foal is also tender, and needs time to allow its limbs to acquire 

 proper sliape and strength. It should have as little traveling 

 as possible to do ; though it should be allowed to run with 

 the dam on the farm, so that it may draw the milk often, 

 which will increase the quantity, as well as enable the colt to 

 get it while fresh, which is much more wholesome to it than 

 stale milk. Though the colt should be allowed to run with the 

 dam on the farm, it should not be allowed to follow her to 

 market, or other places, over hard roads, for in this way it will 

 be very apt to start impediments, such as ring-bone, spavin, 

 hoof-bound, curb, or splint. How these are produced I shall 

 explain when treating of them respectively. 



There is no period of a horse's life at which bad treatment 

 will have so injurious an effect as at this. And what is here 

 lost by carelessness or neglect can never be regained by any 

 subsequent good attention. If it is desired to have a good, 

 stout, well-shaped horse that will attain his natural growth, 

 both the dam and colt must be well fed and protected from foul 

 weather and severe storms. The proof of the old adage, 

 *' half stock, whole profit," is here realized. Nothing is ever 

 made of any stock by starving, and much less of the horse 

 than any other animal. Where shape and performance, or 

 durability and action are required, if the young colt get a start 

 by good feeding and care, it will be easy to keep him up until 

 his training, at three or four years old, when his superior quali- 

 ties will abundantly repay all former trouble. If poorly fed 

 and illy used, there is seldom any thing made. 



At five or six months the foal may be weaned, if its size and 

 strena'th are such as to indicate that it is able to do without 

 the milk. It should be put away in a distant pasture, where 

 it will have no opportunity of seeing the dam. It must now 

 be closely looked after, so that it may be well prepared to 

 begin its first winter. Oats and bran should be allowed in 

 liberal quantity. It would be better to have the oats bruised. 

 Generous feeding is the true principle of economy in this case. 



