352 Care of the Colt in Training 



their time out in the lot at play and will get the much 

 needed exercise. While there is always more or less 

 risk attached to permitting the colts to play on slip- 

 pery or frozen ground, it must be borne in mind that 

 it is not possible to raise horses of quality and en- 

 durance unless they are vigorously exercised at all 

 times irrespective of climatic conditions. 



FEEDING AND DEVELOPMENT 



To encourage maximum development, the colt 

 should be liberally fed from the time of foaling. As 

 a general rule, it is not possible to get him too fat 

 before he is two years old. There are two periods 

 in the colt's early life when much care must be exer- 

 cised in feeding him. The first one is from foaling 

 up to say three weeks of age, and the second immedi- 

 ately after weaning. Many mares are very poor 

 milkers at best, and the youngster is often stunted 

 before he is old enough to eat. On the other hand, 

 some mares are very good milkers and provide more 

 milk than is good for the colt. If he is permitted to 

 take it all, he is likely to suffer from indigestion, 

 which usually produces scours or constipation and if 

 not attended to may prove fatal. When the colt 

 is attacked with such troubles, it is very important 

 to cut down his supply of "milk and draw a part of 

 the milk from the dam by hand. This should be 

 continued until the colt can take it all with no ill 



