RAISING. 319 



But the colt should not be rendered delicate by too close con- 

 finement or stabling. He wants the free use of his limbs out 

 of doors to develop their strength, and the free access of air 

 into the lungs to properly ventilate his blood. This, too, is the 

 most suitable time to commence the cultivation of that attach- 

 ment to and conlidence in man which gives rise to that im- 

 plicit obedience which characterizes the horse above all other 

 animals. Harshness and cruelty at this j^eriod are particularly 

 injurious. The colt should be frequently handled by those 

 feeding him, and even tied up, after becoming habituated to 

 being led about by the halter. Early impressions on the 

 horse, as well as on man, are the most enduring. 



The proper time for castrating a colt depends to so great an 

 extent on the purpose for which he is intended, his shape of 

 neck and head, his breed, etc., that any one age can not be put 

 down for this operation ; though, from the practice of our 

 farmers, one would suppose that it is a matter of no conse- 

 quence at what age the operation is performed. A description 

 of the mode of j^erforming the operation will be found in 

 another part of this work. As a general rule the age of four 

 or five months, for the farm or general purpose horse, will be 

 found proper. But some regard should be paid to the weather, 

 which should not be too hot, nor the flies very numerous. A 

 horse intended for heavy draught or the carriage may generally 

 be castrated at the age of one year, but if too light in the withers, 

 inclined to be ewe-necked, his form will be materially improved 

 by not castrating him until the fall, after he is a year old. But 

 if a colt shows too large a head and is too heavy in the jaw, 

 the earlier he is castrated the better. 



Some young horses are found to have crooked pasterns. 

 This difiiculty commences to develop itself at one year of age. 

 It is caused by the side of the hoof growing thin and extend- 

 ing to one side. Generally, if the hind-hoof, it extends to the 

 inside, but if th* fore- hoof, to the outside. When the pas- 

 tern is thrown ouu\\^rd, it is called pigeon-toe ; when inward, it 



