Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-11-10
"Let US have peace"
RAISING COLTS ON THE FARM.

RAISING COLTS ON THE FARM.
Useful Hints on the Treatment and Break
ing of Colts.
Buy good young FLIES or mares of
which there is good proof that they are
not sold by some one else because they
are poor breeders or don't breed ut all,
and the heavier the better. Breed them
to the best stations within reach Don't
hesitate about the stallion fee, as the
difference between the best and poorest
is not more than five dollars to eight
dollars, which is very slight difference
between the best and poorest colts. After
breeding the mare work her right along
carefully. feed we'll. but never gorge
j. month or two before foaling provide
the mare with a good box stall and small
yard adjoining. BY all means have this
yard fenced with boards; turn the mare
loose in the box stall at nights and in the
yard days when she is not at work. A
few days before and after foaling feed
the mare very light, for fear of securing
the colt. Watch the colt for few days
tosee that it does not become constipated
After three or four days, if the colt ap-
pears all right, gradually raise the mares
feed to about all she will eat up clean.
When the colt is a week or ten days old
you may begin working the mare. Work
very carefully for the first few days, and
do not keep the mare from the colt for
more than three hours at time Do not
let the colt follow the mare under any
circumstances. but let him remain in
the box stall until he becomes used to
staying without her. and give him the
run of the yard also. When the colt is
about month old put few oats in the
box and he will soon learn to eat Let
the mare and colt run in the pasture as
soon as the grass is good. Keep them
along in this way until about month
before weaving the colt. then you may
take the mare out in the morning and
not return her till night. Now gradu-
ally increase the colts feed.
In about two or three weeks you may
put the mare in with the colt for an hour
or two in the evening, then take her out
and tie her by herself, not returning her
to the colt until the next evening. In
two OF three weeks your colt will be en-
hrely weaned without feeling the shock
or worrying the mare. Let the colt re-
main in the box stall or yard, feed two
quarts of oats twice day with bran
mash at noon three times week. Feed
plenty of good hay. water three times
day and keep salt continually before the
colt Leave the colt in the yard in this
spring till the grass is good. Now some
bright morning take the colt with an
older horse to the pasture, bring them
back to the stable at night. In two or
three days you may take the colt to the
pasture without the horse. At night
take him out Il little feed, as this will
keep him contented Be sure that he
has found water. Now he may remain
in the pasture until the grass begins to
fail, then he should have few oats I'M
til about the first of November or De-
cember, when he should be taken to a
yard with an open shed and be treated
about the same us he was the first Win
ter. During the next year treat him
something as you would your stock cat
tie, letting him run in the pasture dur
ing the summer and on blue grass pasture
during the winter. feeding some grain
during storms. Now in regard to break
ing my plan is not to touch the colt
until am ready to begin spring work.
Then get the colt into the box stall, and
putting the harness on carefully have
an older horse hnrnessed and lead tho
colt out and tie him strongly to the hame
of the other horse. One man take the
lines and another the colts hitch rein,
get them to the field as soon as possible,
drive them in the plowed ground for an
hour, then hitch them to brush made
for that purpose. Repeat this operation
for day or two and your colt will be
broken.-Mr. Baxter at Iowa Farmers
Tpstit11fo