Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1879 — Care of Colts in Winter. [ARTICLE]

Care of Colts in Winter.

to beregrettedthat there are so many farmers who still cling to the old idea that colts should not be fed with train while young, or until put to some" ind-of hard work. Furthermore, it is quite a prevalent notion among farmers that if colts are exposed to cold storms and receive rather rough usage generally, it tends to topghen them and they will make better horses than if given plenty ot nutritious food and otherwise well cared for. But there could scarcely be a more fallacious theory than that such treatment could possibly promote their " growth or general welfare. There are doubtless instances where the opposite course has been practiced, and young colts have been pampered and forced into an unhealthy growth for the purposes of making a fine appearance in the show ring; but they are rare exceptions to the rule prevailing among the foremost breeders of thoroughbrea animals. We have often heard fanners assert that grain of any kind was too stimulating and heating for colts, and while this might be a point well taken in recurd to corn or corn meal, it does not apply to oats, which are, doubtless, the best food known for horses, whether old or young. Oats contain all the elements required to build up the systenv and make bones, muscles and flesh. Colts should be kept growing and in good spirits, and nothing that will impair the digestive organs or in any way injure the animals’ health should be fed to them. Starving or scrimping, either in the quantity or quality of food, will never harden or toughen colts. On the contrary, give them plenty of the very best food m order to fully develop the system, increase the size, beauty and stamina of the animal, and let the toughening come through an abundance of exercise. The practice among those who raise fine horses is to give colts a small quantity of oats as soon as they are weaned As long as the pasture is food, this extra feed mav be omitted, ut when they are. brought in for the winter one or two quarts of grain per day are given and continued throughout the first winter. Carrots and other nutritious roots may also be fed in moderate quantities with benefit. This food should be' given in addition to a plentiful supply of good hay, and all kinds of musty or dusty fodder should be carefully avoided. Colts should also be given a small quantity of salt once or twice a week as a vermifuge and general promoter of health. Pute water should also be supplied, and it is better to give it in small quantities and often, than at long intervals and then allow the animal to gorge himself in order to quench severe thirst. Colts that are not old enough to be driven for exercise should be allowed to lake a run in a yard for an hour or two every day if the weather will permit, or remain out altogether in warm climates; bit a shelter should always be prodded for them to sleep unite .ftt night and to protect them from cold

storms. Generous treatment will always repay the breeders of stock, and with none better than horses, for colts well fed and cared for willcome to tns* turity or a good size, and with sufficient strength to betoutto hard work, a year sooner than when raised qnder a system of stinting in food and exposure to severe cold in winter.— N. i. Sun.