1891.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 185 



begets like. It may be of immediate ancestry, or more 

 remote; but blood will tell. In selecting a horse to couple 

 with such a mare, it would be well to choose one possessed 

 of similar qualities and equally good size. While perhaps 

 the disposition in a stallion is not so important, I much 

 prefer a pleasant one. Circumstances may have made a 

 naturally good-tempered horse unmanageable, which, while 

 it is to be regretted, may not disqualify him. If there are 

 any defects in the mare, care should be taken that the same 

 are not found in the horse ; for, if they both have the same 

 defect, it is almost certain to appear in the colt. 



The care of the mare while carrying the foal is often over- 

 looked ; nevertheless, it is of great importance. She should 

 not be fed fattening food, but should have an abundance of 

 nourishing food, such as contains a large percentage of bone 

 and muscle producing qualities. She should have moderate 

 and regular exercise, either by a run in a large yard, or by 

 driving. It is difficult to produce a strong, courageous colt 

 from a mare over-worked or half-fed during pregnancy. 



As soon as the colt is dropped, care should be taken to 

 give it a continued and steady growth ; and its training 

 should begin very early in life, getting it accustomed to 

 being handled and led by the halter. The early growth and 

 early training are what determine the future of the horse. 

 A critical time in the life of a colt is at weaning time, which 

 should be at about five months old, before which time he 

 should have been taught to eat oats or bran, and when 

 weaned should have a liberal allowance, giving him all he 

 will eat for a week or so, until he ceases to mourn for his 

 dam. 



An excellent food for colts just weaned is sweet skim- 

 milk, warmed to the natural temperature. If offered to 

 them about twelve hours after being taken from the dam, 

 they will usually take a little, and will soon learn to drink 

 readily. If they do not take hold of the milk, give them 

 no water and offer only milk, and they will soon learn to 

 drink the milk. About two quarts a day regularly will 

 make a marked difference by spring. 



As the raising of horses is for the purpose of obtaining 

 money, the colt should be for sale any time ; and, when a 



