448 AMEEICAN FAKMER'S HORSE BOOK; * 



specially urgent reasons, the colt should never be prevented 

 from running with the mother. 



THE COLT AND HIS TREATMENT. 



If the foal is sound and healthy, he will need no especial 

 attention until the time of weaning, which will generally be 

 at the end of about six months. But upon this point no 

 arbitrary limitation can be established. The condition and 

 developments of the colt must determine this matter. If the 

 youngster is thin and weakly, he should be allowed to re- 

 main with the dam for a month or two longer, and in 

 extreme cases even more than this. Fall colts should always 

 be allowed the mother's milk till the grass comes in the 

 spring. Many fall colts are weaned too soon, and they nearly 

 perish during the barrenness and inclemency of winter. This 

 mistaken practice seems to be the real origin of the common 

 belief that the fall colt is not so good as the one foaled in 

 spring. It is impossible that he should be, under such mis- 

 management ; for the rigor of winter is more than the young 

 creature is able to bear when left to shift for himself. Let 

 him be allowed the help of the mother's milk until the young 

 grass of spring affords him a suitable substitute. If this is 

 done, he will often be found in advance of the yearling that 

 has been fed during the winter. 



At weaning-time the colt should be entirely removed from 

 the sight and hearing of the mare. By this course she will 

 soon become reconciled to her loss, whereas, if he is allowed 

 to remain near her, she will continue to fret under the sepa- 

 ration, and will be troublesome. 



Now comes the important matter of feeding and rearing 

 the colt, second not even to that of the care of the dam be- 

 fore his birth. The young animal will be pretty much what 

 we choose to make him by our treatment. Fewer ordinary 

 colts, by far, would be found if all of them received proper 

 attention, which is not generally the case in our country. 

 Too often the young creature is the victim of cruel neglect 

 and hardships — compelled to stand out in the open field, by 



