Book VII. REARING HORSES. 9S5 



5973. In the mountains of Wales, and in the Highlands of Scdtland, the breeding mares are never 

 worked during the summer. They are driven to the hills and mountains at the close of the barley-seed 

 season, where they remain till the inclemency of the weather forces them to return for shelter. But 

 their scanty subsistence, the labor they are subjected to in procuring their food, and the moistness and 

 coldness of the climate in the latter part of the season, render both themselves and their progeny of but 

 little value or importance. 



5974. Breeding farms, consisting chiefly of pasture land unfit for feeding, are the 

 situations vi'here breeding is generally carried on. Arable farmers may breed occasion- 

 ally ; but the inconvenience of wanting any part of their working stock at the time of 

 foaling operates almost as a prohibitio i to the breeding of horses. The greater number 

 of horses are bred in situations where a small portion of arable land is attached to farms 

 chiefly occupied with cattle or sheep ; or where the farms are so small as not to afford 

 full and constant employment to the number of horses that must, nevertheless, be kept 

 for the labor of particular seasons. 



Sect. XI. Of Rearing Horses. 



5975. Rearing includes the treatment of the foal till it is ft to work, or to be put in 

 training for use, and also the treatment of the mother till she has weaned her foal. 



5976. In regard to the treatment of the mare till she has 7ueaned her foal in England, 

 and in the improved parts of Scotland, a mare after having foaled, is turned, together 

 with the foal, into a pasture field, and is allowed two or three weeks' rest, before she is 

 again worked, either in plough or cart ; the foal being allowed to suckle at pleasure 

 during the time. After having had a few weeks' rest, she is again worked in the usual 

 manner ; the foal being commonly shut up in a house during the hours of working. In 

 Yorkshire, some farmers are particularly careful not to allow the mare to go near the 

 foal, after her return from labor, till her udder has been bathed with cold water, and 

 not till most of the milk is drawn from it. These precautions are used with a view of 

 preventing any bad consequences from the foal's receiving over-heated milk. Another 

 practice, and which is superior to the above, is also common in Yorkshire, and in many 

 parts of Scotland : after the foal is; a few weeks old, and has acquired strength and 

 agility enough to follow its mother, it is allowed to attend her in the field during the 

 hours of labor, and to suckle occasionally. By this means, not only does the foal re- 

 ceive suflScient exercise ; nor can any prejudical effect happen from the over-heated state 

 of the milk, as the foal is allowed to draw it off repeatedly, and at short intervals ; but 

 the little animal becomes hardy, and loses all timidity, and afterwards requires less 

 breaking ; these may be considered as the general modes of management in those parts 

 of the kingdom mentioned above, during the period while the foal is allowed to suckle 

 its dam, which is usually about six months ; that is, from the time of foaling, till 

 Michaelmas, which is the period at which foals are generally weaned, or prevented 

 from sucking. Breeding mares are evidently unable to endure the fatigue of constant 

 labor, for some months before and after parturition : this had led a few farmers to 

 rear foals upon cow milk ; but the practice is neither common nor likely ever to become 

 so : and as it is a philosophical fact, well established, that all animals partake, in some 

 measure, of the nature of their foster parent, so there is great reason to fear this prac- 

 tice would prove injurious to foals so reared. 



5977. Ill weaning the foal at the end of six or seven months, great care should be taken 

 to keep the mare and foal from the hearing of each other, that neither may fret or pine 

 after the other. The best method will be to confine the foal in a small stable by itself, 

 which should be furnished with a rack and manger, where it may be fed with clean shaken 

 hay, and clean sifted oats, bruised a little in a mill, or chopped carrots, or boiled pota- 

 toes. With this management, he will quickly forget his dam, and become gentle and 

 familiarised to his keeper, and in fair weather may be suflTered to exercise himself in a 

 pasture adjoining to the stable; but this should be only for a little while in the middle 

 part of a sunny day ; the tenderness of the young animal rendering it dangerous to keep 

 him out in the night. 



5978. The treatment of iveaned fovls in England, is to put them immediately into a 

 good fresh pasture, where they remain as long as the winter continues moderate. On 

 the approach of winter, they are fed w ith a sufficient quantity of hay, placed in a stable 

 or hovel, erected in the field for the purpose, and into which they have free access at all 

 times. The next summer they are put into other pastures, commonly the most indiflfer- 

 ent on the farm, where they remain till the beginning of the following winter, when they 

 are either allowed to range in the pasture fields, or brought home to the straw -yard. 

 The inclemency of the winter in Sco'land, and the great falls of snow which generally 

 take place, render it necessary always to house the foals there during that season. 



r)979. During the first winter fo^ls are fed on liay with a little corn, but should not be constantly con- 

 fined to the stable ; for evch when there is nothing to be got on the fields, it is much in their favor to be 

 allowed exercise out of doors. A considera!)le proportion of succulent food, such as potatoes, carrots, 

 and Swedish turnips (oil cake has been recommended), should be given them through tlie next winter^ 



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