CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 729 



to be handy, and lays the foundation of that invaluable 

 faculty of having a ' spare leg.' 



The whole of the horse's future usefulness and handiness 

 should be acquired at this time of life, and not when he has 

 to carry a man. He should be taught if intended as a 

 saddle horse to take a pleasure in jumping, small obstacles 

 only being used, in fact so low that in the first instance all 

 he has to do is to walk over them ; ditches, banks and 

 other obstacles should be gradually introduced, and if he 

 avoids these he should be caught up and led over by hand. 

 In all such cases every encouragement should be given to 

 overcome such natural fear as may exist. 



The man who rears a single foal may smile at this 

 system, but he can, where possible, successfully imitate it 

 by allowing the foal to accompany the mare at work, by 

 which it gets used to sights and sounds, is taught to educate 

 its limbs, gets handled and petted, and receives daily 

 instruction of the utmost value when the time arrives for 

 surrendering its liberty. There is not the slightest reason 

 why the foal should not accompany its dam either to the 

 plough or to market, or the ordinary carting work of the 

 farm, and with very little management they are capable of 

 travelling considerable distances. 



In course of time it will be necessary to separate the 

 fillies from the colts, and the period for the castration of 

 the latter must depend upon their state of development. 

 The forehand and neck are always backward in develop- 

 ment ; the back and hind-quarters often appear to belong 

 to another animal, and the existing state of development 

 and time of the year must decide the question. Twelve 

 months of age is a suitable period of life with most animals, 

 and the spring of the year better for the operation than the 

 summer. Many animals will be improved by delaying the 

 operation for another six or even twelve months. 



Breaking. — When the final stage in its young life is 

 reached, viz., that of so-called ' breaking,' there is only one 

 man who can do it, and that is he who never loses his 

 temper with a horse. Harshness and severity of any kind 



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