ni. 



Feeding of the Two-Yeai>01d. — Mouthing and Bitting. — Lounging. — Tem- 

 per. — Leading on tlie Road. — Much Walking to be avoided. — When 

 harnessed, a Wagon better than a Sulky. — Amount of Work to depend 

 on Constitution and Condition. — Remedy for Broken Gait. — Pulling to 

 be avoided. — Increase of Feed. 



IN the two-year-old, in spring, the grain is to he increased 

 to five, or even six quarts, of good oats a day ; and now 

 the colt is to he mouthed and bitted. He should have a 

 good loose box, with an outside lot attached. It is unne- 

 cessary to describe the processes of mouthing, bitting, and 

 lounging. The latter must not be continued long at a time. 

 Half an hour will be enough ; but, if he takes it well and 

 steps off gayly, you may keep him moving a little longer. 

 He must be lounged round both ways, changing the direc- 

 tion from time to time ; for so giddiness will be prevented, 

 and the bit brought alternately to both sides of the mouth. 

 Great care must be taken not to overdo the thing at this 

 time ; for, when the colt gets fatigued and worried, his tem- 

 per begins to suifer as well as his condition. It would be 

 easy to repair the latter, but the mischief done to the 

 former in early life <:an seldom be repaired. I am convinced 

 til at nine out of ten of the horses we find mischievously dis- 

 posed, or even positively vicious and treacherous, are so by 

 reason of having been improperly handled when young. 

 There was Dutchman — he was not a sulky horse nor vi- 

 cious by nature. You could get him to do his best when- 

 ever you called for it on the course or the road, but ia 

 the stable, look out ! He wanted a great deal of watching. 

 If a man attempted to put his harness on or take it of^ 



61 



