262 
Management of Farm-Horses. 
labour till within a very few weeks of this period. This being 
the case, there can be no valid reason why the best and healthiest 
mares on a farm should not be used for breeding. It is merely 
necessary to keep them in good fair condition, and not to put 
them to severe strains, and then the loss of work will not be 
more than a few weeks previous to foaling, and about double 
or treble this period afterwards. The farmer may depend upon 
it, that if he has suitable pastures for rearing the colts, and selects 
the best and finest mares he can obtain, and puts them to the 
most desirable stallion, the breeding of no description of animal 
will pay him better than cart-colts. They can be reared with 
less risk, and will produce a quicker return than any other kind of 
horse; while they do not involve the expense and risk in breaking, 
by which so many valuable half-bred horses are ruined, through 
the ignorance, recklessness, or bad temper of the breaker. One 
fact, however, should be borne in mind, which is that if a full return 
is anticipated, the young animal should be kept tolerably well 
through the winter months : for if, as is too frequently the case, 
it be lialf starved, the loss from deficiency of symmetry, size, and 
strength, will be much more than can be compensated by any 
saving of food. 
In rearing young colts much care should be taken; they should 
be handled very early and get used to the halter, by which means, 
in case of any accident, not half the risk will be incurred in the 
treatment as when the colt is allowed to remain wild and un- 
governable. At Michaelmas the colt is usually weaned, soon 
after which he should be allowed to taste a few oats which will 
promote his health, strength, and condition, and conduce very 
much to his symmetry. A peck of oats a-week may be enough 
at first, and through the greater part of the first winter, increasing 
it gradually to a peck and a hall. During the second winter, two 
to three pecks per week may be given, and at two and a half 
years old the colt may be broken to harness, doing perhaps half 
a horse's work, and then his corn is to be increased accordingly. 
Carrots form an excellent addition to the food of colts, particularly 
through the first winter. 
3. Keeping, whether in the Stable or in the open Air. 
During eight months in the year, viz., from October to June, 
there can scarcely be a doubt that it is far more desirable in 
every respect to keep working-horses in the stable. 
The effect of exposure to cold and wet throughout this period 
of tlie year is indeed tantamount to the waste of so many quarters 
of oats ; for, if the animal heat is permitted to be thus purloined 
by means of exposure, an additional quantity of fuel in the 
form of food is necessary to supply this deprivation, for there is 
