240 BREEDING BREAKING. 



or a physic-ball, will be useful, if the milk should be troublesome 

 or she should pine after her foal. 



There is no principle of greater importance than the liberal 

 feeding of the foal during the whole of his growth, and at this 

 time in particular. Bruised oats and bran should form a consid- 

 erable part of his daily provender. The farmer may be as- 

 sured tnat the money is well laid out which is expended on the 

 liDeral nourishment of the growing colt ; yet while he is well fed, 

 he should not be rendered delicate by excess of care. 



A racing colt is often stabled ; but one that is destined to be a 

 hunter, a hackney, or an agricultural horse, should have a square 

 rick, under the leeward side of which he may shelter him- 

 self ; or a hovel, into which he may run at night, and out of the 

 rain. 



The process of breaking-in should commence from the very 

 period of weaning. The foal should be daily handled, par- 

 tially dressed, accustomed to the halter when led about, and 

 even tied up. The tractability, and good temper, and value 

 of the horse, depend a great deal more upon this than breeders are 

 aware. 



Everything should be done, as much as possible, by the man 

 who feeds the colt, and whose management of him should be al- 

 ways kind and gentle. There is no fault for which a breeder 

 should so invariably discharge his servant as cruelty, or even 

 harshness, towards the rising stock ; for the principle on which 

 their after usefulness is founded, is early attachment to, and con- 

 fidence in man, and obedience, implicit obedience, resulting prin- 

 cipally from this. 



After the second winter the work of breaking-in may com- 

 mence in good earnest. The colt may be bitted, and a bit 

 selected that will not hurt his mouth, and much smaller than 

 those in common use. With this he may be suffered to amuse 

 himself, and to play, and to champ it for an hour, on a few suc- 

 cessive days. 



Having become a little tractable, portions of the harness may 

 be put upon him, concluding with the blind winkers ; and, a few 

 days afterwards, he may go into the team. It would be better if 

 there could be one horse before, and one behind him, besides the 

 shaft horse. There should at first be the mere empty wagon. 

 Nothing should be done to him, except that he should have an 

 occasional pat or kind word. The other horses will keep him 

 moving, and in his place ; and no great time Avill pass, sometimes 

 not even the first day, before he will begin to pull with the rest 

 The load may then be gradually increased. 



The agricultural horse is sometimes wanted to ride as well as 

 to draw. Let his first lesson be jriven when he is in the team 



