Look after the Foals.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 255, 25 October 1907, Page 6

Look after the Foals.

The management of the foals should be the constant care of every farmer and breeder. Of course, the wisest and best course to take is to accustom the foals to be handled from the very first, but on farms and in large studs it is not always possible to spare the time for this, "us the hands are required lor other work. Ail the same, there is always someone who has to keep an eye on the brood mares, and it is often within this person's power to do more than, he often does to get on good terms with his charges. Foals, just like old horses, differ wonderfully in their temperaments, and whilst some are nervous from the very first, others evince a desire to fraternise with human beings almost as soon as they can stand. The latter, of course, are no trouble; but in the case of the former it is quite the reverse, and the more excitable and nervous the foal is the greater the necessity for handling him. Until something like mutual confidence is established between the foal and his attendant there is always a risk of trouble if it becomes necessary to catch or handle the youngster, and it is remarkable how some foals will try to escape the ordeal. As a consequence, accidents innumerable have occurred through the terrified animals trying to gez through a half-opened door, or into the stall, in their efforts to prevent being caught, and if they do contrive to escape they frequently injure themselves by slipping down or getting hurt by other horses with which they seek protection. The younger, therefore, that he is when his education is begun the less likely he is to get injured, as the immature animal naturally is unable to adopt such methods for escape as a stronger one is. The more timid the foal the greater the patience that must be devoted to handling him, and, indeed, sometimes the task of gaining his confidence appears past hoping for, but perseverance and kindness will accomplish much. It is always best to accustom the foal to wearing a head collar, and, provided that this fits, it may be left on him permanently; but at all events he should wear it for two or three days at a time. The location of weaned foals in a remote paddock is a practice that is not to be recommended if it can be avoided, as the earlier he is accustomed to unfamiliar sights and sounds the less he will be scared by such things in after life. Besides, shotild a foal get hurt in some way, the chances are that the trouble will be sooner detected if he is kept near home; and he is also more likely to receive attention from members of the family it he is close to the house, ?nri so extend his knowledge of the human race. All these may appear to be small matters, but there is reason in all that has been written; and it is usually the case that the young stock belonging to farms on which only a few foals are reared are all good mannered, the cause being that they have been made much of in their infancy.