The great difference between the feeding requirements of a young animal and those of an adult, is that the former needs more materials for development than the latter, and that the grown-up animal wants a larger supply of energy in his food, on account of his labour being more severe as a rule. Hence a foal will require a larger percentage of albumen and of bone-forming substances than an older horse. This conclusion is supported by the nature of the respective composition of colostrum, milk, and pasture grass. In determining their nutritive ratios, we must take into consideration that about 25 per cent. of the nitrogenous matter of grass consists of amides (p. 63), which must be reckoned along with the carbo-hydrates.

As the proportion which the fat bears to the carbo-hydrates in milk is far higher than that in hay and corn, which we may regard as the typical food for mature horses; an addition of fat to the fodder given to young animals is generally advisable, and may be made by means of linseed (p. 162).

The principal materials for development are albumen and lime; the former being needed for all the tissues; the latter, chiefly for bone, the composition of which is as follows:

Corn is particularly rich in easily digestible albumen; and grass, in phosphate of lime. Respecting the development of bone, Wolff points out, that 1,000 lb. of oats contain :

6 lb. 13 oz. phosphoric acid 1 lb. lime; and that 1,000 lb. of hay contains:

4 lb. phosphoric acid 9 lb. 13 oz. lime.

We may therefore conclude that the more we feed young animals on corn within healthy limits, the stronger will be their muscles and other tissues, but their bones will be wanting in size. This conclusion is strengthened by the fact that the great majority of thoroughbreds which are reared for racing, and which are largely fed on corn, are very light in bone, at least from a hunting man's point of view. When, however, thoroughbreds are raised almost entirely on grass, as we often see in Australasia, the bone below the knees and hocks would as a rule satisfy the majority of Leicestershire middle weights. Such bony development would not be desirable in high class racehorses; because large bones and great speed are not compatible, as I have tried to show in Points of the Horse. On the other hand, bone of fairly good size is indispensable for weight-carrying purposes. Some superficial observers think that thoroughbred blood is not capable of producing bone sufficiently large for hunting and cavalry requirements; but we should remember that the physical peculiarities of our racehorses are not due to any racial difference between them and Shire horses, for instance; but to the process of selection and feeding to which they have been subjected during hundreds of years. Any attempt to obtain "bone" in riding horses by the admixture of common blood, is open to the very serious objection, that even its success would be counterbalanced or more than counterbalanced by the introduction of undesirable points of conformation, such as faulty shape of the legs, and heavy shoulders. In a well-built thoroughbred, we have every desirable point in a riding horse, except a sufficiency of bone, which could be obtained by selection and feeding through several generations. If the process of establishing a race of thoroughbreds with sufficient bone for weight carrying hunters and troopers would be too slow for private enterprise, it is eminently worthy of the attention of the State. This suggestion is of course made with reference to military and hunting requirements, and not to those of racing.

Grass to produce compact and well developed bone, requires to be grown on dry land rich in lime. "A good sound limestone soil always produces bone" (Pallin). The soil of Norfolk is dry and rich in lime. "You rarely see bandy-legged children in Norfolk, and the bones of Norfolk-bred horses are very hard and serviceable" (Sapwell). Lucerne is an excellent food for young horses; for it contains a large percentage of lime. Naturally, it will not thrive unless its roots can obtain a plentiful supply of lime.

The foregoing remarks specially apply to the feeding of young saddle horses and young horses of general utility, in both of which classes bone is the chief requirement. As soil which confers compact bone is not suitable for the production of great height and immense bodily weight, both of which are essential conditions in high-priced Shires; these massive giants cannot be raised on the dry limestone districts of Ireland, or in Norfolk. The Fens suit them better.