104 Breeding. 



length of webbing. The absence of this precaution is a 

 fertile source of accidents, while its adoption is only 

 an instance of that constant handling which must be 

 attended to even were no removal necessary. These 

 remarks will carry on the treatment of the yearling to the 

 time when he is broken-in and put into training. At this 

 time that is, in the second summer, and as soon as there 

 is plenty of grass the yearling should begin to assume 

 the appearance of the horse, with arms and thighs well 

 developed, and with a fair allowance of fat, which, though 

 not necessary for racing purposes, is always an indication 

 of high health, and will make its appearance on the ribs 

 of a stout and healthy colt in spite of all the exercise in 

 the shape of frolics and gallops which his high spirits 

 induce him to take. During the early spring months this 

 cannot always be expected, from the nature of the food ; 

 but after May the flesh ought always to be rather full and 

 round than wiry and free from fat, which latter condition 

 indicates a delicacy of constitution unfavourable to the 

 purposes of the race horse. 



Physicking the yearling or the foal is sometimes neces- 

 sary, when he is getting off his feed, or is bound in his 

 bowels, or his eyes are becoming inflamed, or otherwise 

 indicating that he is over-corned. This is a very common 

 state of things, and the remedy is a dose of the common 

 aloetic ball, for which see the "Diseases of the Horse," for 

 the dose and mode of administration. About one-quarter 

 of an ordinary ball is the smallest dose likely to be 

 beneficial to the young foal. 



The following useful directions for the rearing of the 

 foals of cart horses are extracted from Mr. Morton's 

 " Farmer's Calendar." 



" Foals dropped, as they should be, before the middle of 

 May may be weaned about Michaelmas, when the mare 

 will be required for the labours of the farm. When, how- 

 ever, the mare's milk is deficient in quantity or indifferent 

 in quality, it is often advisable to wean the colt much 

 earlier. If this has to be done before the young animal 

 is many weeks old, it must be supplied several times daily 

 with cow's milk, to which a little sugar is added. Besides 



