152 
PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
horses in winter, but cottonseed meal is not used because it is unpalatable. 
Alfalfa or clover hay is considered a good feed except during the breeding 
season. Molasses is sometimes fed in winter, while silage is usually not 
used. The feeds are fed dry, but on Sundays it is the rule to give bran 
mash. 
According to Stericker, the stallion, during the breeding season, may be 
fed a generous supply of oats and bran, together with cut hay, and grass 
once a day is recommended if available. When the breeding season is 
over the feed should be diminished in amount. Hay is fed in amounts as 
the stallion will eat -clean. A little corn is believed to have its place in 
stallion feeding, and clover or alfalfa hay is considered a very desirable 
roughage. 
In setting forth the views and recommendations disclosed by different 
breeders on the feeding and management of the stallion, such as are 
quoted in Sanders and Dinsmore’s “A History of the Percheron Horse,” 
again it is seen befitting to discuss the details, as follows: 
Fletcher writes: “A stallion should be housed in a large, roomy,_well- 
ventilated box stall, and given plenty of exercise, either in a well-enclosed 
yard or under saddle on the road every day. Plenty of fresh water, clean, 
fresh hay, and sweet, clean oats and bran in sufficient quantities during 
breeding season to keep the horse in good condition are essential in my 
plan of breeding stallions. I avoid corn in any form as a feed, as well as 
dirty or musty hay or oats. A moderate amount of green feed is benefi¬ 
cial. A good stallioner will not permit his charge to become too fat or too 
thin, and will be sure that he does not lack exercise. A clean, well-cared- 
for stable, with good ventilation, is necessary, and there should be suffi¬ 
cient grooming to keep his coat in a clean, healthy condition.” 
Prichard states that “If it is possible to give a stallion work, break him 
to harness and give him constant work about the farm out of season. 
When the breeding season comes he will be in condition, and it will be 
easy to give him daily exercise of from five to six miles. If you cannot 
work the stallion, make a paddock, enclosing an area of ground with good 
grass and plenty of w r ater always at hand. Build a stall for shelter from 
sun and storm, so that he can go in and out at will. Feed oats and a little 
dry bran in every feed. If he does not eat oats readily, feed a little corn 
and good timothy hay. Handled in this manner, the stallion should live 
long and be useful as a sire.” 
White, who has been cited oft and again in previous paragraphs, is 
again referred to in the following discussion on the feeding and handling 
of the stallion: “I do not believe that one can afford to work a high-class 
stallion; the risk is too great. He should have a large box stall opening 
fnto a paddock containing about an acre, and the door should be kept 
open day and night, so that the stallion can go in and out at will. The 
fence must be secure, but at the same time constructed so that the horse 
can see through and ascertain what is going on. If possible, I like o 
have a knoll in the paddock, from which the horse can get a good look 
over a large part of the farm. He should be made happy and contented. 
The stallion should be kept in the stall a month before the breeding season 
begins, fed more heavily and given plenty of exercise, so that when the 
season begins he will weigh about 150 less than in show condition and be 
hard. I use only oats, bran and timothy hay for my stallions. Other feeds 
may be as good, and they may be better, but I know from experience that 
these are both good and safe.” 
While the feeding of the stallion at the Maplegrove Farm has already 
been discussed, nevertheless, some pointers may further be gained by in¬ 
cluding Singmaster’s presentation on the subject, including the handling 
of the stallion, thus: “The breeding season in our latitude should not be 
earlier than April 1. The stallion should be put on the road for exercise a 
