BREEDING, CASTRATION, &c. 251 



In five or six months, according to the growth of the tbal, it may be weaned. It 

 should then be housed for three weeks or a month, or turned into some distant rick- 

 yard. There can be no better place for the foal than the latter, as aflbrding, and that 

 without trouble, both food and shelter. The mother should be put to harder work, 

 and have drier meat. One or two urine-balls, or a physic-ball, will be useful, if the 

 milk should be troublesome, or she should pine after her foal. 



There is no principle of greater importance than the liberal feeding of the foal dur- 

 ing the whole of his growth, and at this time in particular. Bruised oats and bran 

 should form a considerable part of his daily provender. The farmer may be assured 

 that the money is well laid out which is expended on the liberal nourishment of the 

 growing colt; yet while he is well fed, he should not be rendered delicate by excess 

 of care. 



A racing colt is often stabled ; but one that is destined to be a hunter, a hackney, 

 or an agricultural horse, should have a square rick, under the leeward side of which 

 he may shelter himself; or a hovel, into whieli he may run at night, and out of the 

 rain. Too often, however, the foal, after weaning, is left to struggle on as he can, 

 and becomes poor and dispirited. He is to bo seen shrinking under a hedge, cold 

 and almost shivering, his head hanging down, and rheum distilling from his eyes. 

 If he is made to move, he listlessly drags his limbs along, evidently weak, and gene- 

 rally in pain. He is a sad specimen of poverty and of misery. This is ilic first 

 scene of cruelty to the horse of inferior breed, and destined for inferior purpose.* 



The process of breaking-in should commence from the very period of weaning. 

 The foal should be daily handled, partially dressed, accustomed to the halter wiien 

 led about, and even tied up. Tlie tractability, and good temper, and value of the 

 horse, depend a great deal more upon this than breeders are aware. 



Everything should be done, as much as possible, by the man who feeds the colt, 

 and whose management of him should be always kind and gentle. There is no fault 

 for which a breeder should so invariably discharge his servant as cruelty, or even 

 harshness, towards the rising stock; for the principle on which their after usefulness 

 is founded, is early attachment to, and confidence in man. and obedience, implicit 

 obedience, resulting principally from this. 



After the second winter the work of breaking-in may commence in good earnest. 

 The colt may be bitted, and a bit selected that will not hurt his mouth, and much 

 smaller than those in common use. With this he may be suffered to amuse himself, 

 and to play, and to champ it for an hour, on a few successive days. 



Having become a little tractable, portions of the harness may be put upon him, 

 concluding with the blind winkers ; and, a few days afterwards, he may go into the 

 team. It would be better if there could be one horse before, and one behind him, 

 beside the shaft horse. There should at first be the mere empty wagon. Nothino- 

 should be done to him, except that he should have an occasional pat or kind word. 

 The other horses will keep him moving, and in his place; and no great time will pass, 

 sometimes not even the first day, before he will begin to pull with the rest. The 

 load may then be gradually increased. 



The agricultural horse is sometimes wanted to ride as w-ell as to draw. Let his 

 first lesson be given when he is in the team. Let his feeder, if possible, be first put 

 upon him. He will be too much hampered by his harness, and by the other horses, 

 to make much resistance ; and, in the majority of cases, will quietly and at once sub- 

 mit. We need not to repeat, that no whip or spur should be used in givino- the first 

 lessons in riding. 



When he begins a little to understand his business, backing — the most difficult 

 part of his work — may be taught him; first to back well without anything behind 

 him, and then with a light cart, and afterwards with some serious load — always taking 

 the greatest care not seriously to hurt his mouth. If the first lesson causes much sore° 

 ness of the gums, the colt will not readily submit to a second. If he has been previ- 

 ously rendered tractable by kind usage, time and patience will do everything that can 

 be wished. Some carters are in the habit of blinding the colt when teaching him to 

 back. This may be necessary with a restive and obstinate one, but should be used 

 only as a last resort. 



The colt having been thus partially broken-in, the necessity of implicit obedience 



* Youatt on Humanity to Animals, p. 115. 



