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little, compared with Ms value, to raise a colt. When the period arriveB at 

 which the colt can do service, the balance sheet will show in its fevor, for 

 voung horses always command good prices if they are sound and well 

 broken. One of the difficulties in the way is the incumbrance placed on the 

 ilam, which interferes with her usefulness on the farm, especially if the colt 

 18 foaled during the early part of the spring. Some farmers have their colts 

 foaled in the fall, but this is open to two objections. In the first place, spring 

 is the natural time, for then the grass is begiiming to grow, and nature seems 

 to have provided that most animals should bring forth their young in a sea- 

 son beyond the reach of severe cold, and with sufficient time to grow and be 

 prepared for the following winter. 



Again, when a colt is foaled in the fall he must pass through a i)eriod of 

 several months' confinement in the stable, without exercise, or else be more 

 or less chilled with cold from time to time. Should this happen, the effect 

 of any bad treatment will be afterward manifested, and no amount of atten- 

 tion can again elevate the colt to that degree of hardiness and soundness o( 

 body that naturally belongs to a spring colt. Besides, a colt foaled in the 

 spring will outgrow one foaled iii the fall. An objection to spring colts may 

 be partially overcome by plowing in the fell, or keeping the brood mares for 

 very light work, with the colts at Uberty to accompany them afways. A colt 

 needs but very httle feeding if the pasture is good and there is water run- 

 ning through it. He needs then only a small feed of oats at night — no com 

 — and if he is given hay it is not necessary to give him a full ration. What 

 he will consume from the bam will not be one- third his value when he is 

 three years old, and if he is well bred the gain is greater. 



When a farmer raises his horses he knows their disjKwition, constitution 

 and capacity. It is the proper way to get good, sound, serviceable horses 

 on the farm. It should not be overlooked that a colt must be ♦^ndt-rly 

 treated from birth, and must be fondled and handled as much as possible. 

 He should never hear a harsh word, but should be taught to have confidenee 

 in everybody he sees or knows. This is an easy matter if hib training begins 

 from the time he is a day old. He can be thus gradually broken without 

 difficulty, and will never be troublesome. No such thing as a whip should 

 be allowed in a stable that contains a colt. Colts should not be worked until 

 three years old, and then lightly at first, as they do not fully mature until 

 they are sis years old, and with some breeds of horses even later. Mares 

 with foals at their side should be fed on the most nourishing food. 



To Bit a, Colt. — The true way to bit a colt is not to bit him at all; that 

 Lb, let him bit himself. When my colts are one year old, I begin to teach 

 them to hold the bit in their mouth. The bit is of pine, some half-inch in 

 diameter, and five inches in length. This piece of soft pine is held in tlie 

 mouth by a cord tied to either end, and fastened on the head, back of the 

 ears. The colt loves to have the bit in his mouth, because it enables him to 

 bring forward the saliva process. He will bit, and work it over in his mouth, 

 and enjoys it hugely. He will welcome it, and will actually reach out and 

 open his mouth for it, as a trained horse will for a bit. After a few days, you 

 can tie strings making miniature reins to this bit, and teach the colt the 

 proper use of it. "^Tien this is done, he is ready for the regular steel bit. 

 Put your bridle on with a leather bit, large and pliant; throw your check- 

 line, if your bridle has one attached, into the pigsty; get into your wagon 

 and drive off. This is all the " bitting" a colt needs. Treated in this way, 

 be wiU have a lively, yielding, sensitive mouth. He will take the bit bravely 



