APPENDIX. 545 



first wiuter campaign than in all the subsequent years of their life. We have 

 seen flocks of yearling colts even in yards of those who professed to be good 

 breeders, "that were rough-coated, scrawny looking animals, dwarfed in size 

 and cowed in spirit, all for the want of shelter, food and cleanliness. Com- 

 paratively few colts come out in the spring with increase of size or increase 

 of value. This ought not to be. It is a fundamental law in physiology that 

 every animal should be kept steadily improving from the time of birth — 

 conception even — until time of maturity. Every interruption to i)rogress is 

 a damage to the constitution, producing some flaw in wind or Umh.—N'ew 

 York Times. 



THE TRAISriKG OF TROTTING COLTS. 



A Tennessee breeder, who evidently is a man of practical experience, writes 

 to a local paper, giving his ideas about the training and development of the 

 trotting horse. The writer in question seems to be so practical and sensible 

 that I make room for the major part of his instructions : 



1. Your colt is well broken to harness and in good condition, not too fat 

 nor too poor ; di'ive him to a skeleton wagon, so as to have no weight on the 

 back until you get him gaitecL In the wagon you can see how he handles 

 his feet, whether he has a long or a short stride — if a long stride and has 

 good knee action, rolls his feet well under him, that is good enough ; he will 

 improve. If he has a long stride, but does not gather quick enough, put a 

 little heavier shoe on his fixant feet, or weight boots, from one to two pounds, 

 as occasion may require. If he has not action enough behind, and does not 

 stifle outside of his body, get lead rollers, and have them well covered with 

 sheepskin, so they will not rub his legs. The rollers should weigh one pound 

 each, and be buckled on above the pastern joint of the hind leg. Then your 

 colt will have plenty of action. After you have driven a few times slowly 

 with these on, you can let him move a little way at a time, not over a hundred 

 yards. If j-our colt is feeling finely, give him work enough to keep him 

 steady. Never drive your colts with a full belly, and always give a few 

 swallows of water before and after driving, and sponge out his head and 

 nostrils. If he is warm, scrape him off well ; then straighten his hair down 

 well with a rubbing cloth ; then put a light blanket on him, tie it up well 

 around his breast so that the wind can not blow on him, and walk him for 

 thirty -five minutes when there is no wind ; then take him in and rub dry and 

 curry him off and give him a little more water — by doing this you will never 

 have a stitt" horse. Some persons after a hard drive take the horse into the 

 stable and go to rubbing him dry. Now, your horse stands there for an hour 

 while they are rubbing him ; then they rub him ott" with a brush — and he is 

 done till the next day, and when you put the harness on to drive him he 

 comes out of the stable stift' and sore all o\'er — he would do anything rather 

 than go ofl" cheerfully, with head and tail up; he would be more likely to 

 "shake hands" with you with his hind feet. In dry and hot weather 

 keep your horse's feet well stufted with cow manure, or flaxseed meal mixed 

 with water.; not too soft or it will not stay in. Tiiis course will keep fever out 



