PROFESSOR LOW'S ERRORS DISPLAYED. 295 



misused ; to fit him for his future task, he must be deprived 

 of hberty, and subjecteci to artificial feeding and training, 

 almost from the time he quits the side of his dam. No time 

 is allowed him for that exercise in the field which his instinct 

 points out as the most suitable and natural, nor for partaking 

 of that food in the open air, which is best of all others to 

 preserve health, and answer the demand of the sanguiferous 

 system in the young animal. He must be trained, bled, 

 physicked, sweated, and subjected to restraint in his natural 

 motion, at the time when the animal functions should have 

 their natural play." 



These assertions are positive enough. Yet I think it is 

 easy to prove that the Professor is wTong in every point. 

 The cruel treatment and restraint to which the foal is 

 subjected from the time it leaves the side of its dam, of 

 which he speaks, may be summed up in the following 

 brief description. 



The colt is, when weaned, confined in a stable with a 

 companion or two, until he has forgotten his dam. Then 

 he is with the others set at liberty, depasturing in well 

 sheltered paddocks and comfortably housed at night ; when 

 he has the best of corn and natural and artificial grasses of 

 all kinds, and has in every other w^ay all that he desires for 

 his comfort. It wall be seen that he does not lose his liberty, 

 as the Professor would have us believe, at the time of his 

 quitting the side of his dam, or indeed until some twelve or 

 fourteen months after, when eighteen or twenty months old. 

 Up to this time he enjoys the most perfect freedom of action. 

 He daily exercises himself according to his natural propen- 

 sities, either galloping or idly taking his rest. What is this 

 but natural exercise .'' and where is the restraint so much 

 objected to .■' I am free to confess I cannot see it ; and more, 

 I am bold enough to say it does not exist. But the time 



