MANAGEMENT OF THE WEANLINGS 
193 
policy of giving some grain to the mares while they are nursing foals 
may be objected to by some, but we have found that it increases the milk 
flow and contributes materially to the rapid development of the young¬ 
sters. 
“We make it a rule to rwean the foals about November 1. They have 
been haltered some time before this, but are not tied up until we are ready 
to wean them. We place a strong leather halter on each one, but also 
take the precaution to run a rope through the halter rings and tie it 
around the neck, fastening it to the manger, so that there is no possibility 
of a colt’s breaking loose when first tied, thereby acquiring bad habits. The 
mares are turned out in pasture, but are brought back the following day 
and the foals are allowed to strip them out once. After this the mares 
are turned back in a separate pasture, and do not see their young again 
for some weeks. The foals are kept tied up for two or three days, until 
they have become accustomed to the halters and have forgotten in some 
degree about their mothers. We then begin turning them out during the 
daytime, keeping them tied up at night. We take the time at this period 
in their growth to halter-break them thoroughly. From this time until 
the following May they are turned out regularly on bluegrass pasture 
every day and are kept in at night. The only exception to this is in case 
of a cold, 'wet storm during the winter. They are kept in out of the storm. 
“From the time the foals are weaned until the following spring we give 
them alfalfa hay for roughage, and for grain allow each about three ears of 
corn per day, and, in addition to this, all of the oats and bran mixture they 
will eat. This system is followed until the pasture grass is very good the 
following spring, usually about the 10th or 15th of May. From this time 
until the hot weather and flies begin to bother the colts they are allowed 
to run out on pasture, both night and day. The stallions are separated 
from the fillies about this time, and the yearling stallions are kept in the 
barn during the day. We have a half-basement barn which is fairly cool 
during the summer, and turn the yearling stallions into it during the day. 
This is partially darkened and some burlap strips hanging down to protect 
the colts from the flies. Our yearling stallions receive the oats and bran 
mixture, fed three times a day throughout the entire summer and fall. 
They are given about all they will clean up. In addition to this, they 
have access to mixed clover and timothy hay, and alfalfa when we have it. 
This is given to them in the mangers during the day in the barn. At 
night they run out on bluegrass pasture. 
“We usually have from six to twelve yearling stallions that are han¬ 
dled in this way. They are all allowed to run together. It occasionally 
happens that one will get his heels tramped on by some of the others, but 
by watching closely and by taking such a colt out immediately we have 
little trouble. It is, of course, necessary to use some carbolic salve, or 
something of the kind, on the injured part until it heals up, but as soon as 
this is done, the colt is turned out again with the rest of the bunch. We 
have not had much difficulty on this score. 
“The yearling fillies are usually turned with the 2-year-old fillies into 
a separate pasture, where they run out both night and day throughout the 
entire summer. We do not feed any hay to the fillies, but give them a 
moderate ration of the oats and bran mixture- This is given twice a day. 
Their allowance probably amounts to half a pound per 100 pounds of live 
weight per day. 
“In November or December we begin tying up the yearling stallions at 
night, but allow them to run out during the day. From this time until the 
following spring, or until they are sold, these stallions coming 2 years 
old receive about five ears of corn each per day, and, in addition, all of 
the oats and bran mixture that they will clean up. They are fed three 
times per day. For hay, we continue twith the mixed clover and timothy, 
although we would feed alfalfa if we had enough of it to supply all of our 
