312 THE HORSE. 



■well as himself can hardly have too much, consistently with a 

 continuance of health ; but caution must be used in forcing the 

 mare until she is decidedly stinted. When the mare is tied up, 

 the halter should not be longer than necessary, nor should it be 

 fastened to a low ring ; as it has often happened that the foal 

 has become entangled in it when low, and has been ruined by 

 his own struggles, or those of his mother. At six months old 

 the foal is usually weaned, previously to which he should wear 

 a light and well-fitting head collar, by which he may be led 

 about with a length of webbing attached to it by a buckle. This 

 is more easily done before weaning than after, as the mare may 

 always be made an inducement to the foal, and it will therefore 

 be half coaxed and half led by a little manoeuvring ; whereas, if 

 entirely alone, the foal will struggle in order to escape, and will 

 not so easily be controlled. Two quarterns of oats may now be 

 given to the foal during the day, which, with the grass of sum- 

 mer, will keep him in high flesh, and by this time he ought to 

 have grown into a very good-sized animal. By this treatment 

 the foals are made strong and hardy against the advent of the 

 winter season, during which time their progress is not nearly so 

 fast as in the summer ; and in spite of every precaution, there 

 are constantly drawbacks in the shape of colds, dysentery, &c. 

 Feeding in this mode is the great secret to rearing racing stock, 

 and though cow's milk, steamed turnips, &c., will make the 

 yearling look fat and flesh}', you will never see that appearance 

 of high breeding and condition which is given by oats, nor, M'hen 

 put into training, do they pass through that ordeal in the way 

 which corn-fed colts and fillies may be expected to do.* At this 

 age, when fed in this wa}^, foals are as mischievous as monkeys, 

 and great care should be taken that they have nothing in their 

 way which can possibly injure them. Brooms, shovels, pikes, 

 and buckets must all be kept away from their reach, and all 

 gates and fences must be carefully put in order. Indeed, with 

 every precaution, they will strain themselves in their play ; but 

 if all these points are not attended to, the consequence is almost 

 sure to be fatal to life or limb. During the winter young racing 

 stock should all be carefully housed at night ; and their oats may 

 be increased to three quarterns a day as soon as the grass fails, 

 with plenty of good sound old hay, and occasionally a few care- 



