THE IMPROVED ART GF FARRIERY. 215 



The halter may soon be put on, and it should be 

 occasionally led, and then tied up ; grooming and 

 dressing must be sometimes practised ; and thus, by 

 degrees, it becomes associated with every thing to 

 which it is destined as age and strength advance ; it 

 also, by this steady process, becomes tractable, and does 

 not lose its temper, which is a most essential point in 

 the value of the horse. 



At a year old, the colts and fillies should be sepa- 

 rated until the former are castrated. 



On the operation of castration, which takes place 

 after the colt is six or seven months old, mention has 

 been made at page 180. 



When about two and a half years old, the two front 

 teeth are shed. The colt at this period should have 

 bran-mashes with hay cut like chaff, for the loss pre- 

 vents their eating the grass as ably as heretofore. 



When colts do not thrive, and their coats stare, and 

 they are given to be hide-bound, the following ball may 

 be used : — 



Socotrine Aloes - - - 4 drachms, 

 Castile Soap - - - 2 drachms, 



mixed. 



When worms is the cause, which is easily told by 

 the appearance of whitish-coloured powder around the 

 anus, twenty grains or more, according to the age, of 

 calomel, may be administered on the night preceding 

 the giving of the ball. 



ON COLT-BREAKING 



The colt having been by degrees handled, haltered, 

 led to exercise, and tied up, the bit having been occa- 



