The Bulletin. 105 



be used to ffoo the hair from driod sweat and dirt, hut the sldn should l>e 

 cleaned with brush or cloth. A practice beconiiuf; <iuite popular in cities and 

 towns, which should also extend to the coiuitry, is the early spring clipping 

 of horses with thick, heavy coats of hair, shedding theui slowly or not at all. 

 In such cases, when horses work on warm days they are dilHcult to clean, the 

 animals suffer not only from heat during the day, but from chilling at night. 

 The slowly drying of the wet coat of hair on their bodies predisposes them 

 to several diseases. 



The feet should be looked after frequently by cleaning out the dirt from 

 the sole, making the foot less liable to thrush, and at times detecting a foreign 

 body which might later penetrate the foot. The hoof should be kept properly 

 shaped to prevent undue strain on back tendons from too long a toe and on 

 the pastern region by too high heels. Feet should be kept properly shod to 

 prevent cracking of the hoof or wearing down and becoming tender-footed 

 which may result in laminitis (founder). 



Some hoofs have a tendency to become dry and brittle, particularly when 

 kept on a board floor, which keep more moist and supple upon a ground floor. 

 A good hoof oil or ointment assists very materially in keeping the hoof in 

 good condition. 



While animals in many cases are not kept in a thrifty, vigorous condition, 

 others, particularly those used for breeding, are not infrequently kept in an 

 overfat condition without sufficient exei'cise. This is often the sole cause for 

 sterility and for weak offspring. The only animals that should be kept closely 

 confined are those which are being I'apidly pushed in the fattening pen. All 

 breeding animals should get plenty of exercise. A misconception is often 

 prevalent, thinking that the stallion and pregnant mai'e should be animals of 

 leisure. On the contrary, they should be required to do a reasonable amount 

 of work of much the same character as the other animals are doing. During 

 the breeding season the stallion's exercise will have to be limited, pei'haps. to 

 driving to a light vehicle or in making short hauls. 



The pregnant mare should do the regular farm work, except backing up 

 of heavy loads, up to within two or three weeks of foaling, when she should be 

 allowed freedom in a paddock and provided with a roomy box stall. The 

 stall should be light and airy like the barn, well disinfected, such as with a 

 5 per cent coal-tar disinfectant, and well bedded. 



Great care should be taken in the selection of good, sound, digestible feed, 

 especially for the horse. Its composition, quantity given, and the regularity 

 of giving should be considered. 



The ration should be balanced, at least to some degree, according to the 

 ])urpose it is to serve, namely, containing abundance of protein for growing 

 hard working and heavy milking animals ; a proportionately less protein for 

 idle and fattening animals. The quantity to feed will depend largely upon 

 the character of the ration, amount of work done, individual characteristics 

 of the animal fed, etc. As a basis for horses and cattle, they may be started 

 on 1 pound eacli of grain and of hay per day for each 100 pounds weight of 

 animal. The close observer will soon be able to determine whether this is 

 too little or too much and to make a change accordingly. Young animals 

 should be given enough to keep them in a growing, thrifty condition ; work- 

 ing animals to maintain their body weight, and fattening animals to gain in 

 weight. Young animals kept thrifty are not so liable to be grossly infested 

 with parasites when exposed to them. With rare exceptions, animals should 

 only receive what they will eat up clean with a relish, and that which is 

 not eaten in due time should be removed. With work animals, those grow- 

 ing or fattening rapidly, feeding should be done three times a day, but with 

 idle animals twice a day may suffice equally as well. 



Hard worked animals should receive the greater portion of their hay at 

 the evening meal, with a small portion in the morning and none at noon. 

 With those suffering from chronic indigestion it is often well to also I'educe 

 the noon grain ration some and add it to the night's meal. 



Sudden changes in quality (kind) or quantity should not be made. Serious 

 trouble not infrequently follows sudden changes made, especially from dry to 

 green or new feeds. The change can be safely made by starting with a little 



