36 
THE PERCHERON REVIEW 
Colt Show at Saunemin, Illinois 
ing. They are anxious to find out from the successful 
exhibitors their methods and means. This gives the 
future a bright aspect. The young boys who are now 
handUng horses will in a few years be horsemen 
themselves. They will be much more competent and 
successful for having had youthful experience. 
Recently during the show of young colts at one 
of the larger colt shows a young lad of perhaps 
16 years carried away one of the prize ribbons. 
Smilingly he said, "I beat him this time. I've 
been trying hard, but he skinned me every time. 
Believe me, I'll stay ahead now, if I can." The 
competitor whom he had beaten was a horseman 
of experience, one who had been successful in show- 
ing and selling good horses. The young lad had 
been showing persistently for several years. At 
each successive show he brought out a better colt 
and in very much better form. 
At the same show nearly half of the entries were 
handled by boys. Lads as young as 10 or 12 led 
young, well-broken animals into the ring. Boys yet 
in their teens carried whips in the show-ring and 
saw to it that a good show was made by the animal 
in which they were interested. 
The farm boy usually has a marked fondness for 
some particular colt or for a farm team. A boy 
will break colts to lead and carry harness at a very 
early age. He has a natural desire for ownership. 
A certain colt or team he will regard as his own. 
Whether the ownership is real or not there is im- 
mense satisfaction. At a farm sale in Nebraska 
a few years ago some older brothers and a hired 
man had teased a young lad by telling him that his 
colt was to be sold. Early in the morning of sale 
day the lad haltered his friend and pet. He led 
him to an obscure part of the farm, about as far as 
he could get. There he stayed all day, holding the 
halter rope with both hands. When he saw the 
last rig drive from the farm after the sale he returned 
to the barn tired and hungry, but happy. 
A boy's love of colts and horses may be a big 
factor in keeping him on the farm. The early liking 
for colts will sometimes be transferred to other 
livestock. Fathers make no mistake by permitting 
boys to be interested in the colts. Fairs and local 
shows would do well to offer prizes for exhibitions by 
boys. The boy's interest in horses is a farm asset. 
By courtesy of Breeder's Gazette. H. E. McCartney. 
First Aid Suggestions 
As we have 50 or more Percherons on the farm at 
all times, we have found it of great benefit to handle 
the more simple cases ourselves, especially since our 
nearest competent veterinarian is located 12 miles 
from the farm. 
To this end it is necessary that some stock of 
drugs be kept on hand and that some one on the 
farm have some little knowledge of administering 
them. A short course in veterinary science, or 
close application to some good text on the subject, 
together with a little common sense, will soon enable 
the beginner to treat many cases without aid. 
We buy our drugs of a near-by wholesale house 
because of the lower cost in buying in large quan- 
tities. Undoubtedly the most common ailment of 
the horse is colic. Although it is quite violent at 
times it is not usually serious if attended in time. 
Our favorite remedy is aromatic spirits of ammonia 
and asafetida, given in water at frequent intervals 
until the animal is relieved. We use cantharides 
for a severe blister, iodine for bruises and the lesser 
inflammations, antimony chloride for cleansing old 
sores and abscesses, and epsom salts, raw linseed 
oil or aloes for laxatives according to the necessity. 
We also have a host of other drugs such as aconite, 
powdered opium, nitric ether, belladonna, carbolic 
acid crystals, sulphur, turpentine, vaseline, arnica, 
alcohol and some good disinfectant. 
Then there are a few instruments that are a neces- 
sity, the most useful being a syringe preferably 2 oz., 
a thermometer to determine stages of fevers, floats 
for dental work, a catheter for cases of retention 
of the urine, needles and silk threads of various 
sizes for sewing up occasional cuts, a small pump and 
length of hose that we use to disinfect the womb 
and remove afterbirth when necessary, and last 
but of much importance are knife and rasp to keep 
the feet in proper condition. 
Many of the more simple things are omitted as are 
also some of the more complex as the inexperienced 
breeder had better secure the services of a com- 
petent veterinarian than to experiment on a 
valuable horse. However a careful study of the 
ailments, and a close watch of the veterinarian in 
action, will soon enable one to handle many cases 
without aid, an obvious advantage to any breeder. 
^ A D. W. ROBISON. 
LaBelle 34982 
