The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-11-12

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nent their value as carriage horses
is IN most cases decreased.
III conditions are such that a stall
lion cannot be worked, a large pad
lock offers the next best opportunity
or exercise. In building such a pad
lock il is economy TO build IL sub
stantial, so that there will be no pos
sible chance for injury to the animals.
he difficulty encountered in such a
method is that horses, particularly
drafters. will not take enough eXer-
| Use of their own free will.
Oats should constitute the basis Of
| he grain ration for stallions. The
| efficiency of the grain may, in many
! cases. be increased by the addition
Of onc.ifth or one-siXth bran. A lin.
ted ration of con makes the Iation
A more economical one, and may be
! added without injury IL plenty Of ex-
arcise is TO lie had. Roots Of various
| sorts are paiatable and succulent and
often improve the stallion allowance.
Barley has been very successfully
Ased as a part of the grain ration.
some complaint has been made
against the use of linseed meal, and
The writer would not advise its use,
except in limited quantities, Good
sound oats with a small portion OF bran
make the best grain ration for stall
lions.
Whatever hay is fed must be clean
and well cured. Timothy and clover,
a major portion OF the former, has
proven 10 be a very satisfactory hay
ration. Alfalfa in large quantities as
a stallion feed has been criticised,
the objection being that it lessons the
ability of a stallion to settle" his
mares. Corn fodder has been found TO
be inefficient. II contains too much
crude fiber. Existing conditions will
determine the quantity Of both hay
and grain which should be fed. a
safe basis upon which TO proceed is
10 feed one pound of grain and one
pound OF hay per 100 pounds of live
weight The amount should be sutti-
Gent TO keep the horse in a vigorous
and healthy condition, yet not fat and
lazy. To maintain this condition the
grain and hay Will vary from the
above given standard with different
individuals.
II q stallion has been working during
the year be viii be in shape TO start
the season as it approaches. If he
has not been worked. he should have
sufficient exercise, and grooming to
have kept him in a vigorous condition.
If he is TO travel, the problem of eX.
ercise is solved; if not, an eight or
ten-mile drive daily will be sufficient
exercise.
At all seasons of the year the stall
lion should be we'll groomed, and have
a light. clean, dry and we'll ventilated
stable. Lack of attention to these de-
tails causes skin diseases and various
other troubles of more or less serious
nature.
10 sum up the cardinal principles in
the success of caring for a stallion
plenty of good, clean food and water
enough exercise and grooming, along
with a comfortable place to sleep, will
under ordinary conditions, give very
satisfactory results.
Care Of Mares and FoaIs.
The principles governing the care
of mares are identical with those gov
erning the care of stations, but the
customary treatment differs greatly
On the average farm the problem o.
enough exercise is not troublesome
The great difficulty is to find hell
that will handle a pair of brood mares
carefully. Mares carrying foals may
work up to within ter days Of the
date of foaling, and be benifitted BY
IL. The should be given moderate
but steady work. Mares in foal should
not be given work which requires the
backing Of heavy loads or where there
Is a chance of slipping. But breeding
mares can and should be worked.
The food for brood mares should be
similar to that of the stallion. Good
oats, four parts, and bran, one part
along with mixed clover and timothy
hay which has been we'll cured, makes
an excellent ration. The rule of one
pound OF grail. and one pound of hay
to every 100 pounds of live weight
is again a good basis to work upon
along with the variations according
TO the individual. AS the period oil
pregnancy advances, the ration in most
cases will need to be increased some
what. During pregnancy particular
attention should be given to the di
gestive appai atus of mares. They
should be gaining in condition, and
bowels looe at time of parturition. II
is always a good plan to feed rather
I sparingly for two or three days before
parturition and the ration at that time
should consist largely of bran. After
parturition it should be increased tc
suit the needs OF the mare and foal
Mare should be given q box stall
at least four weeks before they are
due to foal, in order that they be
come accustomed to it, and may also
have a place large enough to be com
Portable during the night. The stall