338 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
colt. He never can turn out strong afterwards. In a week 
or two the foal will be able to take corn along with the 
mother. Bran and shielings are also very fit food for both 
mother and foal at this period ; but after grass grows more 
plentifully, both kinds of food may be discontinued. 
If the mare is a draught one, she may be moderate!] 
worked a month after parturition ; and if on a road or at 
field-work, the foal may be allowed to follow after the dam, 
which will familiarize it with common objects, and make it 
more tractable and easier broken-in afterwards. At this 
time, however, care must be taken to feed the mare well: 
she should have not less than two feeds of corn daily, 
besides grass, and both should be turned out in a field 
during the night, as a good supply of green food is most 
essential to the production of a sufficient supply of milk 
for the foal. 
The foal may be weaned in five or six months, as may be 
determined from its strength. This is done by gradually 
withdrawing it from the use of milk, and after lessening the 
quantity for a week or two, it should be turned into a rick 
yard, where it can have benefit of both food and shelter 
during bad weather, and occasional draughts of meal and 
water given to it. The mare, in the meantime, should be 
put upon dryer food, so as to lessen the secretion of milk, 
and a little harder work will have a tendency to give a 
different action to the fluids, and thus diminish the supply. 
Should it, however, prove troublesome, a physic ball and one 
or two urine balls will be found beneficial in that case. 
After the foal has been separated from the dam, he should 
be well fed until he has attained his full growth. During 
the earlier stages, bruised oats, bruised beans and pease, and 
also bran should form a part of his daily food. This applies 
to all kinds of colts, whether racers, hunters, draught, or 
