244 ‘DADD’S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
conte. to leave the sexual type with the racer for his breed ; 
also with the dray-horse for his weight, and the fapcv of bis 
owner. 
Supposing it, therefore, eligible to castrate our horses, what ‘s 
the proper age for the operation? What are the relative alvan- 
tages and disadvantages of the different methods of performing 
it? The proper age to castrate the young horse must depend ox 
circumstances, as on his present appearance, his growth, and the 
fature purposes we intend him for, observing, generally, that the 
more early it is done, the safer is the operation; for, until these 
organs begin to secrete, they are pnrely structural parts, and, as 
such, are not so intimately connected with the sympathies of the 
constitution. Some breeders of horses castrate at twelve months, 
others object to this period, because they think the animal hes 
not sufficiently recovered the check experienced from weaning 
before this new shock to the system occurs. In the more common 
sort of horses, used for agricultural purposes, it is probably indir- 
ferent at what time the operation is performed, this consideration 
being kept in view: that the earlier it is done, the lighter will tke 
horse be in his forehand ; and the longer it is protracted, the heav 
ier will be his crest, and the greater his weight before, which, in 
heavy draught-work, is desirable. For carriage-horses it would 
be less so, and the period of two years is not a bad one for their 
castration. The better sort of saddle-horses should be well ex- 
amined every three or four months, particularly at the ages of 
twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four months, at either of which times, 
according to circumstances or to fancy, provided the forehand be 
sufficiently developed, it may be proceeded with. Waiting longer 
may make the horse heavy ; but, if his neck appear too long and 
thin, and his shoulders spare, he will assuredly be improved by 
being allowed to remain entire for six or eight months later. 
Many of the Yorkshire breeders never cut till two years, and 
think their horses stronger and handsomer fcr it. Some wait 
even longer; but the fear in this case is, that the stallion form 
will be too predominant, and a heavy crest and weighty forehand 
be the consequence. Perhaps, also, the temper may suffer. Young 
colts require little preparation, provided they are healthy and not 
too full from high living. If so, they must be kept somewhat 
short for a few days; and, in all, the choice of a mild season and 
moderate temperature is proper. 
