HORSES. 81 



at the beginning of a stage ; afterwards increase the 

 pace, and slacken it again a mile or two before stop- 

 ping, so as to bring him tolerably cool into the stable 

 [See remarks on Exercise, page 20.] 



KEARING AND TRAINING COLTS. 



In his infancy, the colt will generally get along very 

 well by his own exertions, wdth the affectionate care of 

 his mother. But sometimes, colts, like calves and lambs, 

 are weak or foolish, and need assistance ; and, again, 

 the mother may be ignorant or unfeeling, and some 

 attention may be necessary. 



The sooner the training commences, the better, after 

 the colt is several weeks old, if it be done by a discreet 

 person, so that he may receive the kindest treatment 

 He may be fastened by a halter, where he cannot injure 

 himself, or shut up in a safe room. The better way is 

 to fasten him, generally ; then, after having tried in vain 

 to break away, he will learn to stand hitched, and by 

 leading him, and handling him when fastened, he will 

 the sooner be tamed and rendered familiar. 



There are many disadvantages in colts following their 

 dams, and they should frequently be left at home when 

 their mothers are going far and will return the same 

 day or evening, or are going a moderate distance and 

 back quick, so that the exercise would be too much for 

 the colt. If the mare travels far in hot weather, the colt 

 will not only be injured by travelling, but he will be 

 greatly injured by using heated milk. If he be left at 

 home, the milk can be extracted on the way, to prevent 

 injury to the mare ; and, on returning, it should be 

 nearly all drawn out, to prevent injury to the colt ; then 

 he will gradually fill his stomach, as the milk is secreted- 

 This is by far the better way of the two ; but the best 

 way of all is to use the mare but little. Some would 

 object to the colt's going without milk all day. What 

 do they think of thousands of calves that do this, and 

 grow and flourish well ? 



Sometimes colts will go off after another horse. Again, 

 they will start to go abroad, and will not follow well ; 



