LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 423 



fiiend, and the foundation of his education is laid. During 

 the first few days in the life of foals much depends upon 

 strict attention to their bowels, as they are apt to become 

 stopped, and in this event an injection of soap and warm 

 water invariably has the required effect, and the first danger 

 is i)ast. I had a little experience in an early day, which is 

 not forgotten. A mare which I prized highly dropj)ed a 

 fine large colt, and in a few days after it was foaled it seemed 

 in distress. I started post haste for a full-fledged veteri- 

 narian, not wanting to leave anything undone to save the 

 foal. We hurried back as soon as possible, the veterinarian 

 felt of its pulse, he i)ut his ear to its side, then went on with 

 a long lingo about its internal structure, and the obstruction 

 of its abdominal channel, and commenced asking me if it 

 had ]3assed the meconium^ This was a new one to me, and 

 before I recovered from the shock the poor little colt was 

 out of his misery. I felt the loss deeply, buried my first 

 venture in trotting stock, paid the bill, and have used soap 

 and water since. 



When the colt is about ten days old, put on an easy- 

 fitting halter, being careful to have it fit just right, and let 

 him wear it until you turn out to pasture for the summer. 

 It is handy to have it on to manage him. It may be neces- 

 sary to look at his feet, which ought to be handled often, 

 the attendant holding him by the head, but not forcing him 

 to lead much, as at this age we think it too early to trouble 

 them. What we most desire at this time is thrift and pros- 

 perity. When the season has advanced enough to turn the 

 foals out, take one mare and foal to the field at a time and 

 let them loose, and they will soon have tbeir play out; then 

 another, and so on until you get out as many as you desire. 

 In this way you will avoid having the mares fretting and 

 kicking one another, and lessen the chance of an accident. 

 Let me say right here that the majority of accidents on a 

 stock farm can be traced directly to mismanagement and 

 carelessness. The first week or two, when night comes, the 

 mare and foal are taken up and put in a box-stall, well 



