THE HORSE. 27 



brandy and syrup of white poppies, may be given 

 several times. Mares that come early, and in bad 

 weather, should invariably be brought to the house to 

 foal. 



Foals run abroad with their dams until autumn ; if 

 weaklv, their weaning should be deferred as late as 

 possible. It has been before observed that, in the 

 racing studs, and those where first-rate stock is the 

 object, the foals are corn-fed, from their earliest in- 

 clination to it. It should have been observed that 

 geldings are not to be admitted among the brood 

 mares, as by leaping them, or harassing them about, 

 abortion may be occasioned. Foals should be handled 

 at the earliest period, and as soon as possible accus- 

 tomed to be led with the halter. Castration is 

 usuallv performed at two years old ; but with the thin 

 and low crested, should be deferred until the latest 

 convenient period. Spading of mares has been long- 

 since out of practice. The present writer, many years 

 ago, successfully revived the ancient practice of 

 Docking the sucking foal at a month old, an opera- 

 tion which may then be performed with a sharp knife, 

 is attended with trifling pain, and no risk; whereas, 

 both the pain and the danger of the operation on 

 adults, are considerable. The colts and fillies, after 

 being weaned, and the mares becoming dry, may 

 again associate through the winter, and until the ap- 

 proaching parturition of the mares demand another 

 separation : the next is that necessary one of the colts 

 from the fillies. 



