80 
PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
Ogilvie 01 discusses at length the method of feeding and handling foals, 
thus: “I would not advise taking the foal away from its mother during 
the working hours through the spring seeding time. They can do no 
harm to crops by running with their mother in the field, while at work 
during this period. The occasional nursing that can be given the foals 
during the day, if following their mothers in the field, will be very help¬ 
ful in giving them a good start in life, and the foals may be depended on 
to take better care of their mothers’ bags during the first month after 
foaling, than the average farm hand will give them. 
“When foals are four weeks old, you can begin to feed them with a 
grain ration of bruised oats, with fresh wheat bran, moistened with cow’s 
milk, even though you use skimmed milk. If you are unable to provide 
milk, moisten their grain with water sweetened with . . . ‘black 
strap’ molasses. A double handful of grain, mixed as above, will make 
a good ration for each foal three times daily for the first month, you can 
increase this 50%, and after the second month double it, and continue 
this ration until weaning time.” 
“Later in the season when foals by running with their dams might be 
destructive to growing crops that are being cared for I would advise 
keeping them in a small paddock, near barns, if you have one; if not, 
keep them in a barn during the day allowing them to nurse just before 
the mares leave the stable in the morning, after dinner, at noon time, 
and not until after supper, in the evening. But not allowing the foal to 
nurse immediately upon the arrival of its mother at the barn at noon, 
and in the evening, it will give her time to cool off, and the foal will do 
much better thereby, than if allowed to nurse its mother while she is 
in a heated condition, for we all know the result of scalded milk given 
to a nursing foal. 
“If you have more than one foal, give them the freedom of a paddock, 
or house them together in one box stall, or pen. The equine family 
. . . will be more contented and thrive better if kept together, than if 
tied in separate stalls. The exercise that they will receive by being kept 
in paddocks, or loose boxes will in itself be beneficial to them. 
“During the first winter, I would advise allowing foals to run together 
in an enclosure that will give them shelter from the winter storms, and 
at the same time plenty of exercise during the day. A feed of boiled 
oats, and roots . . . with bran sufficient to absorb the liquid in the 
boiled feed, will make a good feed for them, at least once a day. At 
other feeding times continue the ration above prescribed, only in an in¬ 
creased quantity.” 
In regard to the care and feeding of foals, Reese 39 says that “It is 
best to turn the mare and colt in a lot where they can exercise and yet 
be quiet, but care should be taken at first to see that the foal is not 
chilled by staying out too long in cool, disagreeable weather or by lying 
on cold, damp ground. They should not be on grass if the mare has not 
been on grass before.” It is also advised that in case the mare is being 
worked, which should be in a little over a week if she has been worked 
previously, “If the foal is left in the stall, the mare should be brought 
to the stable, in the middle of the forenoon and afternoon in order that 
the foal may get its food, but in no case should a foal suckle a mare that 
is very warm, as digestive disorders are likely to follow. If possible, do 
not use the mare for purposes which will keep her away from the barn 
for a long time, as the foal will either go too long without nursing or 
else will be worn out by following the mare. When left at the stable the 
foal should be kept in a roomy clean box stall in company with another 
one of about the same age if possible.” Later on, Reese continues, “At 
about 2 months of age the foal will take dry feed, which should be sup¬ 
plied through the dam’s grain box. This makes it necessary to furnish 
her with such feeds as ground oats, corn meal and bran. A little later 
