98 
PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
the natural food of the horse, and, if abundant, is sufficient without grain. 
“The food the second and third winter should be the same as the first, 
except that a larger quantity should be fed.” 
Silage is considered excellent food if fed in small amounts and pro¬ 
vided that there are no molds. Its value is enhanced when no roots are 
obtainable. 
Rutherford 08 presents his system on the management of the weanlings: 
“As to age, no colt should, if at all possible, be permanently separated 
from his dam until he is at least four months old, while another month, 
or even two, by her side will make him a better horse and lessen con¬ 
siderably the risks of his first winter . . . the best diet is good 
sound oats with a moderate admixture of bran twice a day, and a well 
scalded, not too bulky, mash of the same materials, seasoned with a 
tablespoonful of salt, and perhaps a handful of crushed oil cake for eve¬ 
ning meal. 
“Weanlings are frequently troubled to a considerable extent with in¬ 
testinal worms of various kinds, especially if grazed in low lying pastures 
in late summer or early fall. The old farmer’s remedy of wood ashes and 
salt is not to be laughed at and if persevered with in small doses for 
some time will often have the desired effect but for a more speedy effect 
the following anthelmintic is recommended: Iron sulphate one drachm or 
powdered areca nut 203 drachms twice a day in a little soft food for a 
week to be followed by a drench composed of turpentine 1 oz., and raw 
linseed oil from 10 oz. to a pint, according to the size and condition of 
the patient. 
“This mixture should be given on an empty stomach and all dry food 
withheld until the bowels have responded to its action. In all cases of 
intestinal worms, benefit is found from occasional injections of tepid water 
strongly impregnated with soap, and for this purpose Gamgee’s enema 
funnel will be found suitable.’’ 
Wallace 43 is of the opinion that foals should be weaned when 5 or 6 
months old, that is to say, if a spring-born foal, he should be weaned 
in October. He recommends that they be placed under shelter at night 
and during the second winter they should be turned out in fields pro¬ 
vided with natural or artificial shelter, and should be well fed. He writes: 
“A sufficient allowance for a Shire or Clydesdale foal during the first 
winter is 2 to 3 lbs. of crushed oats, to % lb. of bran, and % lb. of 
finely ground linseed cake, given in two feeds in a day, with Y 2 peck of 
roots and chopped sanfoin, lucerns, or clover hay in England, or rye grass 
hay in Scotland. As grass comes in spring, the dry food should be grad¬ 
ually reduced, and finally discontinued when good pasture is available. 
“Colts born in November, when about 2 years old, should, if intended to 
do a full complement of work in spring, receive during the winter a 
mixture per week of (1) 3 stones of crushed oats and maize meal in 
equal parts (2) 1 stone of crushed linseed or finely ground linseed cake 
mixed with wheat or barley chaff (3) Y 2 cwt. of chopped hay-clover, 
lucerne, or sanfoin—or an equivalent in strong boned rye grass hay, with 
(4) a foddering at night of oat or barley straw to pick over; also (5) 
about 1 stone of roots in season—swedes, mangels, and carrots—or an 
equivalent in steamed potatoes. Salt should be within reach of all young 
stock, which must also be allowed plenty of exercise to develop muscle.” 
Sanders 46 directs that to wean the colt, he “should be tied in an ad¬ 
joining stall, with the partition so open that they are in plain view of 
each other, and the food of the mare should be reduced to a very small 
ration of dry oats and hay. When the udder becomes so full as to cause 
her uneasiness a part oMhe milk should be drawn off, but she should not 
be milked dry. This first milking may be done by the colt itself, but 
afterwards it should be done by hand . . . the drying off will be 
more speedily accomplished than when the colt is occasionally permitted 
