MANAGEMENT OF BKOOD MARES. 91 



until when he is three months old the orphan foal 

 may have about all the sweet skimmilk he wants 

 three times a day. He will then be eating jolenty 

 of grain and grass and he should have hay if he 

 wants it. Let him have grass as soon as he will 

 eat it. Never feed sour milk or sweet milk from 

 unclean vessels. Keep him in a lot near the 

 house and give him company if it is only a runty 

 calf. Pet him and coddle him all of the time 

 that can be spared and in general treat him as 

 every orphan should be treated — with loving 

 kindness and care. Never confine him closely in 

 a stall. Let him run. The rearing of a mother- 

 less foal is mostly in the man or woman who 

 essays the job. 



Foals to develop to their best should have 

 about all the grain they will eat, and their dams 

 should be well fed also. If the mares are 

 worked their feeding need not bother any one. 

 Their foals should have oatmeal and bran as 

 already described to eat at will, only a little at 

 a time, and the supply renewed often so as to 

 keep it always fresh and sweet. As a general 

 13roposition I do not favor turning out on grass 

 at night any horse that is working regularly, 

 whether it is a nursing mare or any other work 

 horse. It should be either one thing or the 

 other — work and dry rations only, or grass and 

 idleness; the two will not mix to advantage. 

 The fill of green grass which work horses get at 

 night in pasture does them no good and it saves 



