1 50 The Com fie at Horseman : or, 



CHAR XL. 



When Foals are to be weaned orfeparated from their 

 DamrneS) and how they are to be ordered. 



YO U fhould have a Lodge large enough to con- 

 tain all your Mares, that fo upon occafion they 

 may be defended from the injuries of the Weather *, 

 for there is no Creature to which Cold is a greater 

 Enemy than to HoiTes. Many are of Opinion that 

 Foals fhould fuck until they be a Year or two old : 

 But this is a great miftake, becaufe it makes them be- 

 come dull and ill- fhap'd, and makes you lofe the moll 

 part of that Time for the fertility of your Mares. 



You fhould wean your Foals at the beginning of 

 Winter, when it beginneth to grow cold, that is 

 about Martinmas, or the middle of November, and 

 wean them three Days before full Moon, and hang 

 about their Necks upon a piece of Rope feven or 

 eight Inches of the end of a Cow's Horn, to catch 

 hold of them upon occafion*, after which bring 

 them all into your Stable, with Racks and Mangers 

 pretty low fet. 



* I rather think the reafon why moft Foals ad- 

 4 vance fo flowly, and are not capable for Service 

 c until they be fix or feven Years old, is becaufe they 

 c have not fuck'd long enough : Whereas, if they 

 4 fuck'd the whole Winter over, they would be as 

 * good at four or five Years old, as they are now at 

 4 eight.' You may therefore judge by this if it be 

 good Husbandry to wean fo foon. 



Let them all ftand loofe together, and untied,with 

 good ftore of Litter, feeding them with good Hay 

 and Wheat-bran, and fometimes a few Oats ; for it 

 is a folly to fay that Oats make Foals become blind, 

 or their Teeth crooked* 



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