I1O HINTS ON SELECTION, CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF HORSES. 



considerable size and causing, usually, serious lameness. It is consid- 

 ered incurable. Horses with short, upright pasterns are much more 

 subject to this trouble and to the next than are those with pasterns of 

 an opposite character. 



Coffin joint lameness (Navicular disease) is one of those troubles 

 about which little is really known, but much written. The Coffin or 

 Navicular joint is just within the hoof, and hence practically inacces- 

 sible for treatment. As noted under Ringbone, horses with vertical pas- 

 terns are more subject to these troubles, and should be rejected, es- 

 pecially when selecting for light wagon or carriage use. 



Concerning care and management, it has been our aim to secure 

 statements from successful breeders of the actual methods employed 

 by them in feeding, handling and breeding stock. In these statements 

 are represented breeders of various classes of stock, and in different 

 climates ; and we present the following letters, in the firm belief that 

 the information thus given is well worth a careful study : 



French Draft, Percherons and Trotters. 



"HOUSTON, TEX., July 17, 1888. 

 * * * * 



"In the growing of horses, my object has been to produce the best horse at the least 

 expense, and to accomplish this I have spared no pains in first securing the best of sires, 

 and then providing clean, wholesome stables, well ventilated, with pure water and whole- 

 some food ; usually feeding oats twice a day and wheat bran once, but an occasional 

 gradual change from oats to corn I have found advisable in maintaining the appetite. I 

 give every sire at least five miles exercise per day. I regard this exercise as of special im- 

 portance in the season for actual service. He is then always healthful and vigorous. This 

 applies to either pure-bred or standard-bred sires that are kept up, and served to halter to 

 choice mares, when registration of their progeny is required. Less valuable sires, when 

 their progeny are supposed to sell only on their individual merits, I have found it more 

 economical and raised a larger percentage of colts, to turn them out in pastures with a 

 limited number of mares, not to exceed 25, not failing to give them a feed of oats each 

 day to keep them strong and vigorous ; and, in fact, 'turned loose 1 is the most natural 

 way, and in all classes of breeding, it has been my experience that to assist nature is the 

 best that we can do. 



"In providing food for mares, we have found it most satisfactory and economical to 

 cut and stack hay in pastures, the stacks serving as food and shelter, and with much less 

 expense and waste than any other way. Colts, when of sufficient age to take from their 

 mothers, we catch, halter and hitch in stable, until they learn to eat, and lose all fear of 

 being handled, and when again caught, if not until maturity, they will not forget their 

 early handling at the halter. We then turn them in pasture by themselves, where they 

 have all the hay, oats and bran they will eat the first winter. They have then arrived at 

 the age of one year, in a thrifty, growing condition, and will take care of themselves in 

 pasture until matured to the age of three or four years, suitable to break to saddle and 

 harness. At this time avoid 'breaking' their temper and constitution, but on the contrary, 

 through a process of kindness, teach them to lose all fear, and when this is accomplished, 

 the natural instincts control, and they will then intelligently respond to all reasonable 

 calls. A little feed in winter, where circumstances and numbers will admit, would be a 

 judicious expense. Yours very truly, 



"H. B. SANBORN " 



