Soiling Horses. 201 



sheep were sold, and the horse business was carried 

 on alone on "Squawkie Hill," where, at onetime, 

 we had between thirty and forty head of brood mares 

 and colts that were always supplied, more or less, 

 with soiling crops during the summer. For brood 

 mares with foal at foot, oats and peas make a grand 

 feed. There is nothing, however, that seems better 

 suited to horses than lucern, where land is adapted 

 to its growth. 



The horses, like the cows, were always fed soiling 

 crops in their stall daytimes, and turned out nights ; 

 and any one who wishes to raise a thrifty colt, and 

 keep the mother in reasonably good condition, can 

 be assured that soiling is the best and most econ- 

 omical wa}' to accomplish that end. My success in 

 the show ring with horses as well as cattle was 

 owing largely to soiling. The following is a clipping 

 from the " Live Stock Journal " : 



" This class of stock (horses) is thought by many 

 to be unadapted to the soiling system, especially 

 colts, as they require exercise to develop the muscu- 

 lar power, and soiling is thought to require too close 

 confinement. This arises from misconception of the 

 flexibility of the system. Soiling does not neces- 

 sarily. require the confinement of animals any more 

 than pasturing. It is true that pasturing furnishes 

 larger fields to range in, but nearly every farmer 

 can devote a lane running to the wood-lot as space 

 to exercise in. This lane is necessary for the con- 

 venience of the farm, and generally furnishes a road 

 to the different parts of the tillable land and 



