CHAPTER VII 



THE COLT'S KINDERGARTEN TRAINING 



OUR care in the development of the colt 

 should begin before he is foaled. His 

 dam should be generously fed, have a com- 

 fortable stable (a box stall whenever practicable), 

 and plenty of exercise. The work to which she is 

 put, whether on the farm or the road, should be as 

 regular as possible. It should not be unduly 

 severe, however, nor too long continued at a time. 

 If she has to pull a load, care should be taken to 

 have her harnessed properly, so that the traces, 

 pole, or shafts do not press too much against her 

 sides. But any inconvenience that this may in- 

 volve should not prevent her being used; exercise 

 is essential and, if properly safeguarded, will 

 cause no bad results. Often my own mares have 

 been used almost to the very day of foaling. 



But, after foaling, the best thing for both mare 

 and foal is to cease work and turn them out in 

 some good pasture where there is water. The 

 mare will give more milk and the foal will do better 

 in this way than any other — so much better, in 



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