244 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



oontei . to leave the sexual type with the racer for his breed; 

 also wiih the dray-horse for his weight, and the farr-^ of hi« 

 owner. 



Supposing it, therefore, eligible to castrate our horses, what Js 

 the proper age for the operation? What are the relative advan- 

 tages and disadvantages of the different methods of performing 

 it? The proper age to castrate the young horse must depend ou 

 circumstances, as on his present appearance, his growth, and the 

 future purposes we intend him for, observing, generally, that the 

 more early it is done, the safer is the operation ; for, until these 

 organs begin to secrete, they are purely structural parts, and, as 

 giich, are not so intimately connected with the sympathies of the 

 constitution. Some breeders of horses castrate at twelve mouths, 

 others object to this period, because they think the animal hta 

 not sufficiently recovered the check experienced from weaning 

 before this new shock to the system occurs. In the more commcn 

 gort of horses, used for agricultural purposes, it is probably indif- 

 ferent at what time the operation is performed, this consideratioQ 

 being kept in view : that the earlier it is done, the lighter will the 

 horse be in his forehand ; and the longer it is protracted, the heax 

 ier will be his crest, and the greater his weight before, which, ia 

 heavy draught-work, is desirable. For carriage-horses it would 

 be less so, and the period of two years is not a bad one for their 

 castration. The better sort of saddle-horses should be well ex- 

 amined every three or four months, particularly at the ages of 

 twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four months, at either of which times, 

 according to circumstances or to fancy, provided the forehand be 

 Bufficiently developed, it may be proceeded with. Waiting longer 

 may make the horse heavy ; but, if his neck appear too long and 

 thin, and his shoulders spare, he will assuredly be improved by 

 being allowed to remain entire for six or eight months later. 

 Many of the Yorkshire breeders never cut till two years, and 

 think their horses stronger and handsomer for it. Some wait 

 even longer; but the fear in this case is, that the stallion form 

 will be too predominant, and a heavy crest and weighty forehand 

 be the consequence. Perhaps, also, the temper may suffer. Young 

 colts require little preparation, provided they are healthy and not 

 too full from high living. If so, they must be kept somewhat 

 §hort for a few days ; and, in all, the choice of a mild season aaJ 

 moderate temperature is proper. 



