MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. 175 



All colts should be well halter-broken the first winter of 

 their lives if not sooner. Keep a good supply of clean wood- 

 ashes and salt near them ; they will eat all they require and no 

 more. This keeps them free from worms, and otherwise 

 healthy. 



WEANING. 



"When the colt is taken from the mare it may be tied in an 

 adjoining stall with the partition open enough so that they may 

 see each other. The mare should be fed lightly on dry feed. 



When the bag becomes so full as to cause uneasiness it may 

 be partially milked out — not dry — by the colt for the first 

 time, but afterward by hand, as the milk will become some- 

 what feverish and not good for the foal. 



After weaning the colt may be fed skim-milk, especially if 

 not in good condition at weaning time. 



Good, sound, clean oats is the best food for colts. A little 

 oil-meal is also good, as well as carrots, clean hay, and clover, 

 if clean and sweet. 



HANDLING. 



Commence to handle the foal from the first and let him 

 distinctly understand that while you are his superior in strength 

 you are his friend and will not hurt him ; then he will have 

 full confidence in you and will ever be easily managed. 



Halter-break foals when only a few days, or at the most, 

 a few weeks old. When taken at from two to six weeks old 

 they can generally be halter-broken in half an hour, especially 

 if they have been handled from birth. 



BREAKING FOALS. 



It is wonderful how easy it is to accustom a weanling to 

 harness, compared with the work if delayed until older. 



NAMING THE COLT. 



Next to naming the baby this is perplexing and difficult. 

 Large breeders are many times at a loss to know what to call 

 their foals. I prefer giving each animal at the start a good 



