MANAGEMENT OF THE WEANLINGS 
99 
to suck. After the milk has entirely dried up the mare and her foal may 
be saparated and she may safely be turned out to grass. 
“Skimmed milk may still be given to the colt, especially if it is not in 
good condition to enter the winter; but clean, sound oats, ground or un¬ 
ground, constitutes the best of all grain foods for the colt. I prefer to 
have them ground; and as cold weather approaches about one-fourth in 
weight of corn-meal may profitably be added, as it helps to lay on fat 
and keeps up the animal heat. A little oil-meal—say a pint a day—may 
also profitably be given with oats for some time after weaning. Don’t 
be afraid of feeding too liberally . . . As soon as the mare and foal 
can be separated the foal should have the run of a good pasture, as there 
is no food better than grass, no medicine so good as exercise and no ex¬ 
ercise so profitable to young animals as that which may be taken just 
when they feel like it.” 
Reynolds 46 places the weaning age at five or six months. He says that 
“the separation of the foals from free-nourishing mares must be accom¬ 
plished by degrees. For some days prior to final removal of the foal the 
intervals of allowing it to suck must be increased in length, and the 
food allowance of the mare reduced in quantity and quality for a cor¬ 
responding time . . . the mare should be more severely worked. After 
ultimate severance of the foal the glands must be periodically hand- 
drawn, and a brisk purgative administered. Restricted diet, particularly 
in regard to fluid and succulent provenders, should be enjoined until the 
secretion of milk is completely suspended.” 
According to Dimon, 40 weaning should be done by tying the mare in an 
odjoining stall separated also by an open division which would make it 
possible for the foal and dam to see each other. The feeding of the mare 
should be light and on dry feed, and when the bag is full, causing dis¬ 
comfort, the milk may partially be drawn off by the colt, at first, and later 
on by hand, because then the milk is hot and unfit for the colt. Skim 
milk may be given to the colt after weaning, especially to colts that are 
out of condition. It is claimed that good oats are the best feed for colts, 
while a little oil-meal, carrots, clean hay, and good clover are also recom¬ 
mended. During the fall when grass is disappearing, the colt should be 
provided with laxative feeds, such as carrots or almost all of other root 
crops. Sweet apples are held in high esteem if cheap and in big quan¬ 
tities. While variety in the feed is desirable it should consist principally 
of crushed or ground oats, and some wheat is beneficial. Concerning the 
feeding of corn products Dimon writes: “I like a little corn meal mixed 
with ground oats and other feed for colts wintered in northern climates. 
Some think that corn meal is too heating for young colts; so it is, fed 
liberally and alone as a grain ration, but mixed as above, and fed in 
winter in our northern states, it makes a pretty good overcoat to help 
keep the youngster warm, and will keep them free from worms better 
than any other food except linseed oil meal, which, by the way, is a 
most excellent food for any and all stock, and especially so for young 
animals; but it should be fed sparingly and mixed with other grains.” 
Regarding other details of feeding the colts, Dimon further says: “In 
the case of colts scant feeding is to be deplored, and worse yet, the ex¬ 
posure to severe cold and storms; while overfeeding the colt makes him 
clumsy by having the nerves overloaded with fat. Digestion has often 
been impaired by an over-loaded stomach; if this is done in the colt 
there is little hope of having a healthy and long-lived horse. 
“In caring for weanlings the first winter, give them plenty to eat of 
clean, good, bright hay, and sweet rowen, if accessible, with grain rations 
suitable to its size and needs. Do not overfeed with grain, and give an 
occasional feed of roots, etc., and give plenty to drink. Skim milk is best, 
but water will do, and give plenty of open air exercise and sunshine but 
carefully avoid exposure to bleak winds and cold storms.” 
