BREAKING-IN. 223 



com should be given in a trough on the ground, that the foal may partake 

 of it with the mother. When the new grass is flush and plenty, the corn 

 may be gradually discontinued. 



Our work is intended, principally, for farmers : they well know that the 

 mare may be put to moderate work again a month after the foaling. The 

 foal is at first shut in the stable during the hours of work ; but as soon as 

 it acquires sufficient strength to toddle after the mare, and especially when 

 she is at slow work, it will be better for the foal and the dam that they 

 should be together. The work will contribute to the health of the mother ; 

 the foal will more frequently draw the milk, and thrive better ; and will be 

 hardy and tractable, and gradually familiarized with the objects among 

 which it is afterwards to live. While the mother, however, is thus 

 worked, she and the foal should be well fed ; and two feeds of corn, at least, 

 should be added to the green food which they get when turned out after 

 their work, and at night. The mare will usually be found at heat at or 

 before the expiration of a month from the time of foaling, when, if 

 she be kept principally for breeding purposes, she may be put again to 

 the horse. 



In five or six months, according to the growth of the foal, it may be 

 weaned. It should then be housed for three weeks or a month, or turned 

 into some distant rick-yard. There can be no better place for the foal than 

 the latter, as affording, and that without trouble, both food and shelter. 

 The mother should be put to harder work, and have drier meat. One^ or 

 two urine balls, or a physic ball, will be useful if the milk should be trou- 

 blesome, or she should pine after her foal. 



There is no principle of greater importance than the hberal feeding of the 

 foal during the whole of his growth, and at this time in particular. 

 Bruised oats and bran should form a considerable part of his daily pro- 

 vender. The farmer may be assured that money is well laid out which 

 is expended on the liberal nourishment of the growing colt : while, how- 

 ever, he is well fed, he should not be rendered delicate by excess of care. 

 A racing colt is sometimes stabled ; but one that is destined to be a hunter, 

 a hackney, or an agricultural horse, should merely have a square rick, 

 under the leeward side of which he may shelter himself, or a hovel, into 

 which he may run at night, or out of the rain. The process of breaking-in 

 should commence from the very period of weaning. The foal should be daily 

 handled, partially dressed, accustomed to the halter, led about, and even 

 tied up. The tractability, and good temper, and value of the horse, depend 

 a great deal more upon this than breeders are aware : this should be done 

 as much as possible by the man by whom they are fed, and whose manage- 

 ment of them should be always kind and gentle. There is no fault for 

 which a breeder should so invariably discharge his servant as cruelty, or 

 even harshness, towards the rising stock ; for the principle on which their 

 after usefulness is founded, is early attachment to, and confidence in man, 

 and obedience, implicit obedience, resulting principally from these. 



After the second winter, the work of breaking-in may commence in good 

 earnest. He may first be bitted, and a bit carefully selected that will not 

 hurt his mouth, and much smaller than those in common use ; with this 

 he may be suffered to amuse himself, and to play, and to champ for an 

 hour, on a few successive days. 



Having become a little tractable, portions of the harness may be put upon 

 him, and, last of all, the bhnd winkers; and a few days afterwards he may 

 go into the team. It would be better if there could be one before, and one 

 behind him, beside the shaft horse. Let there be first the mere empty 

 waggon. Let nothing be done to him, except that he may have an occa- 



