82 THE HORSE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



MANAGEMENT OF YEARLINGS, Etc. 



Aftek Laving been weaned, foals should be kept on a pasture 

 aft'ording- good grazing, and tliey should receive a daily feed 

 of some crushed oats and a little liny. Tlie quantity of food 

 provided must depend upon the nature of the grazing, and The 

 condition of the foals. If they fall off in condition, the allow- 

 ai.ce of dry food luust be increased. The great thing is to 

 keep foals progressing coiitinually after they have been weaned, 

 and not to let them lose condition, as they are apt to do if not 

 properly treated in the way of food. An allowance of, say, 

 about t"\vo pounds of corn a day will be ample as a rule from 

 the time the foals are weaned until the following spring. While 

 there is a jDlentiful growth of grass, only little hay need be 

 given, but the ration of hay umst be gradually increased as 

 the food afforded by the pasture decreases, and dur- 

 ing the winter season, hay must be provided in a 

 liberal manner. A quantity of chop, consisting of two parts of 

 chaffed oat-straw and one part chaffed 1 ay must also be given 

 through the winter, this being fed along with the corn. An 

 allowance of about four pouids of chop is the right quantity 

 for foals of light class, while those of the heavy draught class 

 should be given tAvo pounds more than this. Tlie hay should 

 be fed ad libitum, as much being given as the foals will eat. 

 An allowance of half a poujid to one pound of dry bran per 

 diem is a useful addition to the food of foals during the first 

 winter. Some roots must also be given every day, in order to 

 keep the bowels sufficiently open. In the case of backward 

 foals, and those that do not thrive satisfactorily, the fee(Hng of 

 a daily allowance of skim milk or butter milk Avill be of great 

 advantage in improving their condition. 



