Gram Foods for Colts 335 



or dried, the necessity for protein in the grain is not 

 so great and corn may form a larger proportion of the 

 ration. 



A good grain mixture for ordinary conditions would 

 be cracked corn two parts, wheat bran seven parts 

 and linseed meal one part; or ground oats four parts, 

 wheat middlings five parts and linseed meal one part. 



Feeding tJie colt. — Before the colt is weaned, with 

 good management, he will learn to eat grain, which is 

 very likely to be the same mixture as that eaten by 

 the dam. If desired, an enclosure may be built, into 

 which the colt and not the mother can pass, where a 

 special grain food may be provided. This brings us 

 to the consideration of what shall be the grain ration 

 of the colt, both before and after weaning. 



The opinion is generally held that oats are superior 

 to all other feeding stuffs as horse food, particularly 

 for the development of those qualities of temperament 

 and muscle which are regarded as so desirable, espe- 

 cially in a carriage horse. It is recognized, of course, 

 that oats are comparatively costly, but it is claimed 

 that the superior results, whether in the kind of devel- 

 opment of the colt or in the quality of service of the 

 mature animal, justify their use. An opinion so uni- 

 versally entertained is not wisely ignored. It has been 

 shown many times, however, that popular views have 

 been wholly or in part erroneous, or, at least, have 

 been based upon wrong premises; and in this partic- 

 ular case certain statements are currently accepted as 

 facts which have no well-established basis. 



Reference is frequently made to the tonic effect of 



