fo6 Breeding, 



S' 



of chaff, and divided into a morning and evening feed. 

 An occasional bran mash is also advisable ; a pound of 

 bruised oil-cake daily, given with the oats, tends to keep 

 the skin in a healthy state, and is especially useful when 

 roots are not to be had ; a piece of rock salt in the rack 

 or manger contributes to digestion and health, whilst 

 a sufficient supply of good water is fully as essential 

 as good food. In early spring, and before there is 

 sufficient grass to afford a full bite, colts may be ad- 

 vantageously turned out during the day, and brought in at 

 night. Their management during the summer requires 

 less notice. If they are to come to good size they must 

 still be liberally dealt with, placed on good grass, their 

 pasture varied occasionally, and ensured at all times a 

 good supply of water. In the succeeding winter their 

 age and strength enable them to stand more hardships, 

 and their fare need not be so nutritive as during their first 

 winter. Good fresh straw, of varied sorts, a liberal supply 

 of sliced roots, with corn, bran, and chaff as before, will 

 generally suffice without hay to keep them growing in 

 sound health and improving condition." 



For the rearing of young horses it is necessary that 

 farmers have enclosures or conveniences for letting their 

 colts run out during fine winter weather, or an open shed 

 in their pasture where they can receive their allowance of 

 corn or hay, and, at the same time, be sheltered from the 

 inclemency of the weather. Nothing can be more per- 

 nicious to horses' feet than the heat arising from litter, to 

 which colts are subjected when fed and reared in yards 

 and boxes. 



There is no principle of greater importance in horse 

 feeding than the liberal feeding of foals during their whole 

 growth. They ought to have a due proportion of cooked 

 food when they are changing their teeth. The plan 

 of manger-feeding, that is, giving crushed oats and beans, 

 cut hay and straw, mixed together, at the time they are 

 changing their teeth, would prevent them becoming re- 

 duced to the low state we see them at that period. 



