Fekdint. the Horse. 



689 



leads easily among the grains. When it is fed, the horse exhibits mettle 

 as from no other food. If at any time the animal should seem con- 

 stipated, a bran mash should be given. While a certain amount of 

 roughness must be fed to give bulk or volume to the ration in order 

 that the digestive functions may be properly maintained, yet we must 

 remember that a large abdomen cannot be tolerated in a carriage horse. 

 Another factor that the feeder of this class of horses must ever be on his 

 guard against is the feeding of laxative foods, such as clover or alfalfa 

 hay or bran, in too large quantities, for when the horses are put on the 

 road and warmed up they will prove very draining on the system as well 



Fig. 26. — .4 pure-bred Hackney coach stallion 



as disagreeable to the driver. Style and action are prerequisites, while 

 economy in feeding standards and oftentimes the health of the animal 

 are held but secondary. 



Feeding the trottei 



In feeding the trotting horse all must give way to the single requisite 

 of speed. Every pound of useless weight, whether body weight or extra 

 food, must be worked off, otherwise it will become a serious obstacle 

 in the management of the trotting horse. More important than this. 



