BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 109 



In five or six months, according to the growth of the foal, 

 it may be weaned. For this purpose, it should either be 

 housed, or turned into some pasture at a distance from the 

 dara. The mare should be put to harder work and drier food. 

 If her milk is troublesome, or she pines after her foal, a few 

 purgatives (one or two urine-balls, or a physic ball) will be 

 found useful. The foal should be fed well and liberally every 

 morning and evening, bruised oats and bran being about the 

 best kind of food which can be given. The money so laid out 

 upon the liberal nourishment of the colt, is well expended ; 

 yet, while he is well fed, he should not be rendered delicate by 

 excess of care. Toward the end of summer the foal may be 

 turned out to general pasture without fear of his again seeking 

 his dam. 



Should the foal be a male, and emasculation be desirable, it 

 is better to perform the operation at the time of weaning, that 

 the one trouble shall serve for both occasions. If, however, 

 weaning take place in June or July, when the fly abounds, the 

 operation should not be performed, as this insect by its attacks 

 will cause restlessness and consequent inflammation, and thus 

 retard recovery. Early spring, or an advanced period of 

 autumn, is the best time. This operation should in no instance 

 be performed by any other than a competent veterinary sur- 

 geon. One thing in this connection should be mentioned ; 

 when a horse is sufi'ered to attain two-thirds of his growth 

 before emasculation, an animal is obtained of form, power, and 

 value far superior to that which has been operated upon when 

 a foal. This much is deserving of remembrance ; though we 

 cannot omit heartily condemning the practice of emasculation 

 at all. 



