290 RIDING FOR LADIES, 



Turn him, after weaning, into a good piece of pasture 

 land, and feed him twice a day with oatmeal-porridge mixed 

 with a quart or three pints of good sweet milk. The cost 

 of this is more than doubly repaid by the increased strength 

 and power that it affords : such feeding being far in ad- 

 vance of the customary crushed beans, oats, hay, chaff, and 

 other strong meat (totally unfit for babes) which grooms find 

 such delight in giving. 



Hunting colts should be kept during their first three 

 summers on good rich grass land, and be provided with a 

 suitable shelter, to which they can retire when the sun is 

 overpowering, or the weather severe. In the winter time 

 they should have warm boxes to rest in at night, but had 

 better be kept out of doors during the day, for air and 

 exercise. Where this treatment is adopted, there will 

 seldom be roarers in the stable. 



Excellent feeding for youngsters that are meant for 

 hunting purposes is sliced mangel or swede turnips mixed 

 with hay that has been cut into long chaff. Crushed maize 

 added to the roots is also very good ; and oats, peas, and 

 beans may be given to ensure variety. Carrots are, I think, 

 far before all other vegetable diet, where the soil is favour- 

 able to the growing of a good crop ; but, where they are 

 scarce, mangel will make an excellent substitute. Feeding 

 on roots alone is not advisable, even for a short period, 

 seeing that such are composed of 20 per cent of water, and 

 if not mixed with a proper quantity of grain or chaff, are 

 apt to produce a variety of ailments which may be found 

 troublesome to cure, 



