The Growing Stock 297 
acter, as oats and bran. If good alfalfa or clover hay is 
accessible for the colt, this with oats will make a very: 
desirable ration. Young colts make larger growth than 
older horses in proportion to the feed consumed and hence 
it is an economical proposition to put grain into the young 
animal. 
In addition to good feed, the young colt must have 
plenty of exercise. An open shed arrangement is excellent 
in most sections of the country for this purpose. This 
shed may be constructed by putting the feeding quarters 
inside and having them bedded so that the colt may have 
a dry place to eat and sleep, but with access to a lot or 
pasture where they may run at will. Colts handled in 
this way will have long hair, but will develop a ruggedness 
that cannot be obtained with colts that are raised with 
lack of exercise. Winter pasture should be used if avail- 
able but it should not be depended on for the entire 
ration if maximum growth is desired. 
CASTRATION 
Castration is usually performed when the colt is one 
year old. If the animal is undeveloped in the neck and 
fore-quarters, the castration is sometimes deferred until 
the second year, but there is less danger of losing a colt 
by castration when one year old than later. Unless 
colts are castrated they usually have to be separated from 
other horses as early as the second winter, as they become 
a great nuisance, although they are not usually capable 
' of getting colts until the second spring. 
FEEDING THE YEARLING 
The feed that the yearling should obtain will depend 
largely on his future use. If maximum gain is to be 
