that the prejudice against working entire horses has con- 

 siderably declined. On the other hand, the existence of 

 unsound and in other ways undesirable stallions in large 

 numbers is a serious menace to the success of horse breeders 

 in any district, as there is an ever-present prospect of such 

 animals being used for breeding purposes to the detriment of 

 horse-flesh generally. The operation of castration or gelding 

 is usually performed when the colt is from one to two years 

 old, but it is frequently postponed until a later age in order 

 that the crest and masculine appearance may be more 

 developed. Many cases, moreover, are known in which 

 stallions which have sired foals have been castrated when 

 quite of middle age in order to develop them into exhibition 

 harness horses. There is, of course, an additional risk 

 attached to the performance of so serious an operation 

 upon an old horse, and it not infrequently occurs that the 

 intentions of his owner are thwarted by a subsequent loss 

 of action, though numerous exceptions to this might be 

 quoted. The best periods of the year for the operation to be 

 performed are the spring and autumn, when the weather is 

 neither too cold nor too hot, as extremes of temperature 

 increase the risks and delay recovery. Under any circum- 

 stances the operation and subsequent treatment should be 

 entrusted to a professional man to perform. (See Gelding, 

 Stag, Stallion) 



Cataract consists of a speck upon the pupil of the eye 

 which may cover only a part of the organ, or all of it. In 

 the latter case it causes blindness, and is easily recognised, 

 but in the former it is not so easy to detect and constitutes 

 a serious danger to those using the horse, as his impaired 

 vision is apt to make him shy. If a cataract is suspected, 

 darken the stable and hold a lighted candle in front of the 

 eyes, when the speck will be seen in the pupil. There is no 

 cure for cataract but an operation of a very delicate nature, 

 which only a skilled professional man is capable of under- 

 taking with any prospect of success. (See Eyes.) 



64 



