125 THE HORSE. 



The balf-peck of oats cannot be put down as costing less than six 

 pounds a year ; and thus, at five years of age, the colt will have 

 cost thirty pounds more than if he had been fed on hay and grass 

 alone. Now, between a race-horse reared on corn, and another 

 confined to hay and grass, the difference in value would be a thou- 

 sand per cent.; and in first-class hunters, though not so great as 

 this, it would be very considerable. But among inferior horses, on 

 the average, it would scarcely reach the sum I have named as the 

 prime cost of the oats ; and, therefore, though in the depth of 

 winter a quartern or half a peck is generally given with a little bran, 

 yet, when there is good grass, this is neither necessary nor is it 

 economical. Shelter from the weather should, however, be afforded 

 to colts of all classes during the winter season ; and unless they 

 have this, they soon grow out of form and lose flesh, however well 

 they may be fed. It is now fully recognised that warmth and pro- 

 tection from the rain encourage the growth of all our domestic 

 animals ; but in none are they more influential than in the one 

 which I am now discussing. A colt neglected in its first winter 

 never recovers its proper shape, nor does it grow into the size and 

 strength of body and limbs which naturally appertain to its breed. 

 -Independently, therefore, of the cruelty in exposing the young 

 animal to a climate for which it is not fitted, the plan does not 

 pay; and on the latter account, if not on the former, even the 

 most heartless, who consider their own interests, will make suitable 

 provision for protecting their young horse-stock from the inclem- 

 ency of our winter climate. 



The foal should be handled from the very first week of its 

 existence ; but there is no occasion to use it roughly in accustom- 

 ing it to the pressure of the hand on all parts of its body and 

 limbs. If this process is very gradually commenced, no resistance 

 will at any time be offered, and the foal will allow its feet to be 

 picked up, and its head and ears to be rubbed, without taking 

 offence. Grooms are sometimes in the habit of showing off their 

 powers in this way, by taking the foal up in their arms ; but this 

 can do no good, and may possibly lead to injury of the walls of the 

 abdomen. About the fourth or fifth month, and before weaning is 

 commenced, a light head-collar should be put on ; and after the 

 foal is accustomed to its pressure, by repeatedly handling the part 

 on successive days, a leading-rein should be buckled on, and the 

 young thing enticed to follow the groom without any absolute co- 

 ercion. At the same time, it must be made to feel that resistance 

 is useless ; and if it begins to pull, it must on no account be al- 

 lowed to get away, the groom yielding as long as the foal pulls 

 straight back, but coercing it gently with a side strain. A care- 

 fully handled foal will rarely give any trouble in this way ; but 

 there is an astonishing variation in the power which different men 



