ox BREAKIXa AXD TRAINING HORSES. 195 



I have known several instances of this plan being 

 adopted, in which I have afterwards ridden the mares 

 hunting, and I never could trace any disadvantage 

 arising from it. 



The effect probably is to slightly enlarge the 

 frame of the mare, and give it the appearance of 

 having a larger middle than if she had not had a 

 foal, and it is quite possible it may have the effect 

 of partially developing the frame and giving in- 

 creased play to the lungs and other internal organs. 



The foal should be allowed corn as soon as it will 

 eat it, and in order to ensure its getting this, five 

 posts should be let into the ground, and a rail 

 fastened round the tops of them sufficiently high to 

 allow the foal to run under, and at the same time to 

 keep the mare out. The posts and rails should be 

 arranged so as to form a circle, and a moveable 

 manger should be placed in the centre ; the corn 

 should be put in this in small quantities at a time. 

 One rail may be left o^^en at first to allow the mare 

 to go in and feed, as this will teach the foal, but as 

 soon as the foal begins to eat the corn by itself, the 

 rail should be put on again. 



When the foal is weaned it should be shut up in 

 a loose box by itself away from the mare, out of 

 hearing if possible. The mare and foal should be 

 taken into a box, and the mare then led out again, 

 and the foal prevented from folio v;ing her. As soon 

 as the foal has got quiet it should be haltered and 



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