338 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



colt. He never can turn out strong afterwards. In a week 

 or two the foal will be able to take corn along with the 

 mother. Bran and shielings are also very fit food for both 

 mother and foal at this period ; but after grass grows more 

 plentifully, both kinds of food may be discontinued. 



If the mare is a draught one, she may be moderately 

 worked a month after parturition ; and if on a road or at 

 field-work, the foal may be allowed to follow after the dam, 

 which will familiarize it with common objects, and make it 

 more tractable and easier broken-in afterwards. At this 

 time, however, care must be taken to feed the mare well ; 

 she should have not less than two feeds of corn daily, 

 besides grass, and both should be turned out in a field 

 during the night, as a good supply of green food is most 

 essential to the production of a suflScient supply of milk 

 for the foal. 



The foal may be weaned in five or six months, as may be 

 determined from Hs strength. This is done by gradually 

 withdrawing it from the use of milk, and after lessening the 

 quantity for a week or two, it should be turned into a rick 

 yard, where it can have benefit of both food and shelter 

 during bad weather, and occasional draughts of meal and 

 water given to it. The mare, in the meantime, should be 

 put upon dryer food, so as to lessen the secretion of milk, 

 and a little harder work will have a tendency to give a 

 difierent action to the fluids, and thus diminish the supply. 

 Should it, however, prove troublesome, a physic ball and one 

 or two urine balls will be found beneficial in that case. 



After the foal has been separated from the dam, he should 

 be well fed until he has attained his full growth. During 

 the earlier stages, bruised oats, bruised beans and pease, and 

 also bran should form a part of his daily food. This applies 

 to all kinds of colts, whether racers, hunters, draught, or 



