118 THE RURAL EFFICIENCY GUIDE STOCK 



foal rather than to force him into subjection by breaking his spirit and having 

 him obey through fear. Guard against bad habits and do not let them become 

 fixed. Mismanagement and the want of something better to do are the cause 

 of most bad habits in horses. Exercise and a proper amount of work play an 

 important part in the training and development of all classes of horses. At the 

 age when the foal may begin to work, two and a half to three years, be particu- 

 larly careful not to overwork him. Reserving his strength will result in a more 

 complete development and a longer lifetime of the most satisfactory service. 



Age to Castrate Colt. Castration should be done by one well qualified 

 to do the work and is usually done after the colt is a year old. Too early castra- 

 tion interferes with the development of masculine characteristics that are impor- 

 tant in the gelding. Colts should be in a healthy condition at time of castration 

 and exercised or turned to pasture following the operation. There is less oppor- 

 tunity for infection and colts heal faster if turned out to pasture prior to and at 

 time of castration. 



The Care and Feed of the Stallion. Stallions of a better class than the 

 average would greatly increase the value of the horse industry and improve the 

 general character of horses in every community. There should be a community 

 interest in the type and character of the stallions that stand for service within it. 

 Owners of mares should be as much concerned about the care and management 

 of stallions as they are with the care and management of their brood mares and 

 foals. 



Four important evils prevent stallions from having the vigor and fertility to 

 insure mares being safely bred and from possessing the ability to impart soundness, 

 strength and longevity to their foals. These evils are hereditary unsoundness 

 and disease, idleness, pampering with the wrong kind of feed, and service at too 

 young an age and in excess. There is no reason why these evils should exist or 

 cannot be avoided. There are plenty of sound, healthy colts of good parentage 

 in the country which if properly reared should make it unnecessary to use any- 

 thing of secondary class. A community effort and proper appreciation on the 

 part of owners of mares and stallions in selecting and handling stallions would 

 save money, time and disappointment and insure a class of horses and a market 

 for them that would be highly profitable. 



Proper Age for Service. Properly reared and managed, the best service 

 of a stallion is from eight to sixteen years. A two-year-old colt will serve mares 

 without indications of harm at the time, but experienced horsemen claim that in 

 after years he will show undesirable results of it in both himself and his colts. 

 One of the most successful breeders of horses in America advises not to let a 

 colt serve until he is at least four years old and further states that five is better. 



Number of Mares Stallion Should Serve. Commence breeding twenty 

 mares at the proper serviceable age and increase each year at the rate of ten 

 until fifty mares are bred each season, never going beyond this number and never 

 serving more than two mares a day. This should insure a high percentage of 

 mares safely bred, colts of a vigorous, sound character and a long useful lifetime 

 of service on the part of the stallion. Stallions are frequently required to serve 100 



