196 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



them, and drive them. They thus become accustomed to 

 the harness, and get a little needed exercise in that way. 

 When they are a year old, I hitch them to a very light rig 

 and drive them a little. I do not believe in driving a colt 

 until he is tired. I never put a bitting bridle on a colt, and 

 go away and leave him. My time is worth too much to do 

 that. I stand by, and when he shows any indication of 

 being tired, I take the bridle off and put it on again after he 

 is rested. You cannot teach a tired colt anything, any more 

 than you can teach a mad boy. I try to make my colts feel 

 that I am their friend, and that they can have confidence in 

 me. I would not let any long interval pass in the summer 

 without having the harness put on them. I accustom my 

 colts to having the wagon come up against them. They 

 know I am there, and it is all right. 



Mr. Pierce. I would like to ask as to feeding dry or 

 moist food. 



Mr. Winslow. I like dry feed. Moist feed does well 

 enough, I think, for people who like it, but I prefer dry 

 feed. I like to have my horses chew their food. But, in 

 the case of a horse that will bolt his oats, I would crush 

 them. You cannot lay down any general rule ; you have 

 got to know the horse. 



Mr. Pierce. Don't you think it is the better way to feed 

 moistened, cut feed, in case they eat slowly? 



Mr. Winslow. I think dry feed is better. I think the 

 horses are less liable to suffer from indigestion, and less 

 liable to have wind colic, where they are fed on dry feed. 



Question. Don't you think that a mare that is worked 

 moderately and regularly on the farm produces a healthier 

 and more thrifty colt than one that is kept in idleness ? 



Mr. Winslow. Yes, I do. I think that a mare ought 

 to have moderate exercise. Of course in the large breeding 

 establishments a man cannot do it ; but with one or two 

 mares he can work them moderately through the winter, and 

 he will be more likely to get strong, healthy, courageous 

 colts than if the mares were kept in a box stall without 

 exercise. 



Question. Do you use a bitting bridle? 



Mr. Winslow. I like to teach a colt to obey. I like to 



