112 BREEDING. 



have a couple of feeds of corn daily. By the present rules of the jockey- 

 club the age of turf horses is reckoned from the 1st of January, but this 

 has not by any common consent extended to the half-breds. 



The 1st of May being nearest the general time of foaling, the age of 

 all but thorough-bred stock is usually dated from that period. The breeder 

 may depend upon it that nothing is gained by starving the mother and 

 stinting the foal at this time. It is the most important period of the life 

 of the horse ; and if ft-om false economy his growth is arrested, his puny 

 form and want of endurance will ever after testify the error that has been 

 committed. The corn should be given in a trough on the ground, that 

 the foal may partake of it Avith the mother. When grass is plentifal, the 

 quantity of corn may be diminished. The mare wiU usually be found at heat 

 from the eighth to the tenth day after foaling, which is the best time for 

 her to be put to the horse again, and if this period be allowed to pass 

 Avithout her taking the horse, three weeks will generally be found to elapse 

 before she will be again found to be at heat, and everj* precaution should 

 be adopted by again bringing her to the horse, at the expiration of another 

 three weeks, to ensiire her being in foal. If used for agricultural pur- 

 poses, she may now be again put to work. The foal is at first shut in the 

 stable during the hours of work ; but as soon as it acquires sufficient 

 strength to toddle after the mare, and especially Avhen she is at slow work, 

 it will be better for the foal and the dam that they should be together. 

 The work will contribute to the health of the mother ; the foal will more 

 frequently draw the milk, and thrive better ; and will be hardy and 

 tractable, and gradually familiarised with the objects among which it is 

 afterwards to live. While the mother, however, is thus worked, she and 

 the foal should be well fed ; and two feeds of corn, at least, should be 

 added to the green food which they get when turned out after their work, 

 and at night. 



In five or six months, according to the gi'owth of the foal, 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 affording, and that Avithout trouble, both food and 

 Bhelter. The mother should be put to harder work, and have diier meat. 

 One or two urine-balls, or a physic-ball, Avill 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 during the whole of his growth, and at this time in particular. 

 Bruised oats and bran should form a considerable part of his daily pro- 

 vender, and if the advantage of a dairy is available, a liberal supply of 

 new milk will accelerate his development to a most extraordinary extent. 

 The farmer may be assured that the money is well laid out which is ex- 

 pended on the liberal nouiishment of the growing colt ; yet while he is 

 well fed, he should not be rendered deHcate 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 which 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 seen shrinking under a hedge, his head hanging down, cold and almost 

 shivering, and when made to move, listlessly drags his limbs along, evi- 

 dently weak and generally in pain, a sad specimen of poverty and misery ; 

 such treatment generally results either in the death of the animal duruag 

 the winter or folloAving spring, or lays the foundation for a variety of de- 

 bilitating diseases which may more or less affect the animal for life. The 

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



