BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 185 



right — in some localities — by these merciless and annoying 

 insects ; others have their growth more or less retarded from 

 the same cause. 



More than this — an early colt may be weaned in time to 

 become accustomed to solid foods and can more easily be kept 

 in good condition during the first winter, coming out in the 

 spring strong and vigorous. 



Another important item of consideration to the trotting- 

 horse breeder is, that all registered animals and all eligible 

 racers' ages are reckoned as commencing with the year; so a 

 colt foaled on January 1st stands equal with one foaled on the 

 31st of December, of the same year. Consequently the earlier 

 in the year the foal is dropped the more advantage it has as 

 regards age ; and this item alone is of vast importance in rais- 

 ing horses for the turf or track. Aside from this advantage it 

 is generally conceded that the early foal will always make a 

 larger and stronger animal than the later one. What I mean 

 by the later one, in this connection, is the one dropped in the 

 late spring or during the summer or early fall months. 



In most of the middle and western states, however, I should 

 prefer — other things set aside — to have the foals come in Oc- 

 tober and then carefully house and feed them with the dam 

 during the winter. They will then be able to go out to grass 

 early in the season and be better able to withstand the murder- 

 ous puncturings* of the flies. 



Good care is the grand secret in horse-raising, second only 

 in importance to that of blood, which is purely an inherited 

 quality and a lack of which no after care can ever compensate. 

 Abundant opportunity for exercise in the fresh air is an abso- 

 lute essential to a healthy development of all young animals ; 

 it is not sufficient that the colt be led out at regular intervals 

 for his exercise ; he needs and should have the opportunity to 

 romp and play. 



A stirring up of spirit that causes him to extend his muscles 

 to the outmost and expand his lungs to their very depths, and 

 to send the blood coursing through his veins with fiery vigor ; 



