50 'fHE STOCK OWNER^S ADVISEE. 



easily reach it. He will enjoy a nice chop feed, and it will help 

 him ont considerably when he is being- weaned. The colt should 

 receive the best of attention during the time of weaning and 

 while he is young. Bad treatment at this age will weaken him 

 for life, and he is too frequently a victim of cruel neglect. Un- 

 sheltered from the bleak winds and snows of winter, his vital 

 energies receive a shock from which he will never wholly re- 

 cover. He not only loses a year's growth, but is injured for life. 



COLT AT FIVE DAYS. 



The foal's education should begin when he is five days old. 

 The foal may be educated as well as the child, and wise people 

 have said that it is never too early to begin. The rules which 

 govern in the human are applicable to the lower animals. The 

 prevailing practice among farmers and stock-raisers is to let the 

 colt remain unbroken until he is considered of suitable age to be 

 put to work. This is not only a dangerous method to the colt, 

 but to the trainer as well. A great many are spoilt or injured so 

 that they are always unreliable to work, or rendered unfit from 

 the abrupt manner in which they are brought into services. We 

 cannot too greatly condemn this practice. If the stock-raiser 

 would take into consideration the amount of money lost he would 

 at once lay aside his old methods. He disposes of his colt at a 

 great sacrifice, probably one-third of its value, rather than go 

 through with the ordeal of breaking. If the little colt is trained 

 at the proper time, and the training carried out until he becomes 

 a horse, he will never know what breaking means. Take him in 

 hand at once and gentle him. IS^ever let him know Avhat fear is, 

 and yet you. must control him. There should never be a time 

 when the colt does not recognize the mastery of his keeper and 

 the necessity for obedience. Be gentle and kind to him, allowing 

 him to examine you thoroughly. Whatever he understands to 

 be harmless he does not fear. In moving up to him, if he should 

 show fear, be gentle and move carefully, and he will soon com- 

 prehend that you are harmless, if allowed the privilege of exam- 



