110 STABLING. 



Some commence again, commencing with the ninth day 

 and follow up as before, making forty-two days. Twenty- 

 one days being the period elapsing between a mare's going 

 out of heat, and coming in again, making her periodical 

 term thirty days. Twenty-one days is claimed to be suffi- 

 cient to prove a. mare. 



The mare and colt should be well fed, and protected 

 from storms. The theory of working a mare hard, and 

 half starving the colt, is the poorest kind of economy, 

 since the mare needs generous feed and rest, to renew her 

 strength and make her milk, by which of course the colt is 

 nourished and made to grow. When size and strength will 

 indicate that it is time to wean, which is usually in five or 

 six months, put the colt in a quiet pasture, away from the 

 mare, where it should be closely looked after. A little 

 oats, (better if bruised,) should be given daily. 



The conclusion of careful breeders is, that it is much 

 better for a colt to run in pasture, than to be confined in a 

 stable. If the colt is intended for farm use, castration may 

 be performed when six months old ; if, however, the withers 

 are light, it should be -postponed until the head and neck 

 fills up to the degree required, and this may require from 

 one to two years, or even more. If the head is large and 

 heavy, early castration is advisable. Colts should be gen- 

 erously fed, and protected from the inclemency of the 

 weather in winter. They should be treated gently. May 

 be broken early to harness, if treated gently and with care. 

 This, however, is hazardous, as there is danger of over- 

 driving young colts if they are driven at all. Many seem 

 to take pride in trials to which they subject two or three 

 year old colts. It is not what they can do, but what they 

 ought to be required to do. 



STABLING. 



Pure air is not only an absolute essential in securing and 

 retaining the perfect health of horses, but is the cheapest 

 and most easily available. The stable should be so located 

 and constructed as to enable this most perfectly, as well as 

 afford the greatest convenience and comfort, thus ensuring 

 health and economy. It should be built on a dry, airy 

 location, facing the south, large enough to give ample 



