218 THE HORSE 



night in the summer after having eaten their usual 

 grain ration in the stable. Mr. F. S. Peer, in his 

 interesting book on "Soiling, Ensilage and Stable Con- 

 struction," recommends soiling brood-mares and foals 

 during fly time and turning both out at night. 

 He recommends feeding oats and peas, also alfalfa. 



In summer, darken the stables and exclude the 

 flies as far as possible. Preserve the rotund appear- 

 ance and the "colt flesh" of the foal until it disap- 

 pears naturally, when eight to nine months of age. 

 A stunted colt means a handicapped horse. 



The fall colt. By the middle of May, or before, 

 will have been weaned, will have all of its incisor 

 milk teeth, and will make rapid growth without con- 

 centrated food when turned out to pasture. 



We may now sum up the transaction: The brood- 

 mare has earned by her work her own and her foal's 

 food and, in addition, enough to pay an ordinary bill 

 for services of stallion. The value of the colt, when 

 weaned, will usually range somewhere between thirty 

 and one hundred dollars, the larger part of which will 

 be profit. After the foal has been turned co pasture, 

 it will require but little attention or grain, either 

 summer or winter. The cost of its food will usually 

 be between fifteen and twenty -five dollars per year. 

 The colt, unless thoroughbred or trotter, maybe made 

 to earn its keep after it is three years of age. 



NOTE. Colt the male offspring of the mare when less than 

 five years old. At five, the name changes to gelding or stallion. 

 Filly the female offspring up to five years of age or less, after- 

 ward a mare. The word colt is also used generically for a male or 

 female, under five years of age. Foal a young colt of either sex. 



