MANAGEMENT OF THE WEANLINGS 
187 
Lakewood Farm 
Maplegrove Farm 
Oaklawn Farm 
Raboin Pioneer Homestead Farm 
Selma Farm 
Santa Anita Rancho 
Woodside Farm 
University of Illinois 
Irvinedale Farm 
Lefebure Sons’ Co. 
Longview Stock Farm 
Oakdale Farm 
Arngibbon Farm 
Hawthorn Farm 
Iowa State College 
Michigan Agricultural College 
University of Minnesota 
According to Stericker 
Twice a year. 
Begins when a year old. 
Begins when about 3 months old. 
Monthly. 
Monthly if needed. 
Every 4 to 6 weeks. 
Monthly. 
Every 6 or 8 weeks. 
Begins when 2 months old and then 
every 2 months. 
Begins when 6 months old and then 
every 2 months. 
Every 2 to 4 months. 
Begins when 2 months of age. 
Once in summer and once or twice in 
winter. 
Every two months. 
Once a month. 
Twice a year. 
Every two months. 
Begins at weaning time and then 
every 30 to 60 days thereafter. 
To cite again from Sander & Dinsmore’s quotations in their “A History 
of the Percheron Horse,” the practices advocated or followed by a number 
of leading breeders with regard to handling the sucklings and weanlings 
are hereon presented in the following paragraphs: 
On this subject Fletcher writes: “The stallion colts should be thor¬ 
oughly halter-broken at or before iweaning time. After taking the colt 
from its mother, he should be placed in roomy, well-ventilated pens or 
boxstalls that adjoin clean, well-drained yards or pastures, where he may 
have plenty of exercise. These yards or pastures should be fenced, either 
with boards or closely woven heavy wire of such weight as to discourage 
any disposition to get out They should be located also on dry, well- 
drained ground. The stable should be kept clean. The colt must have 
sufficient feed to keep him in a healthy and growing condition, but not 
too fat. It is a mistake to permit colts to go back after weaning time 
through lack of feed. A colt stunted at this time will never recover his 
lost ground. 
“I believe a ration of ground oats and bran, with plenty of sweet hay, 
the best for colts. After the first winter place them in a well-fenced pas¬ 
ture, with ample shed protection from bad weather. Do not locate this 
pasture adjacent to one in which mares are kept. Have plenty of fresh 
water always accessible and feed enough grain to keep the youngsters in 
a healthy, growing condition. 
“I should handle my colts in this manner, with proper winter protec¬ 
tion, until they are 2*4 years old, and then place them in roomy boxstalls 
and feed them for market. Stallion colts kept in confinement and highly 
fed easily become blemished. Through lack of exercise they do not develop 
proper bone and muscle, and rarely reach their full size. They are also 
inclined to bad dispositions.” 
Prichard discusses this phase of horse management rather at length, 
and says: “It goes without saying that a stallion foal should get a good 
start in life while by the side of his mother. He should know how to eat 
grain before weaning time, so that when weaned he will hardly miss his 
mother’s milk. After weaning he should have a grass lot with feed and 
water always before him and should be halter-broken and stabled at 
night. Have oats, corn, bran and good hay, clover or some alfalfa, always 
available. We aim to have grain before our weanlings so that they can 
get it as they want it. 
