FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 100 



culation^ or to lessen the circulation of tlie digestive organs bv stimulat- 

 ing circulation elsewhere, is detrimental to digestion. 



Having thus briefly described the digestive function, certain 



PRINCIPLES OF FEEDING 



may well be discussed: 



1. Feed regularly. 



2. Water before feeding. 



3. Increase grain ration gradually. 



4. Change grain ration gradually. ■ 



5. Do not feed grain when horse is tired or hot. 



6. Do not give much cold water when tired or hot. 



Do not exercise violently after feeding. 



Encourage horse to eat slowly. 



Do not allow horse to have access to hay continually. The con- 

 tinual use of over-ripe hay^ corn fodder or straw as a food for the horse 

 leads to indigestion. 



By feeding regularly an animal soon acquires the habit of taking his 

 food at certain times and remains quiet between feeding hours; if fed 

 irregularly he is constantly restless, expecting food at any time. The 

 digestive organs will also perform their work better if the food is taken 

 at regular intervals. 



Water needs no digestion, hence if given before feeding it passes out of 

 the stomach into the intestines more easily where there is more surface 

 for absorption, and thus it gets to the parts of the body where it is 

 needed, more quickly. If watered after a heavy feed the stomach is dis- 

 tended, thus interfering to a greater or less degree with its movements, 

 and digestion becomes imperfect. 



By rapid eating the food is imperfectly masticated, and the process of 

 liquefaction is carried on with greater difficulty. Rapid eating is encour- 

 aged by taking the horse from his stall before his meal is finished. 



A sudden change or increase of grain ration is very apt to produce colic. 



During exercise the circulation of the blood will be greater throughout 

 the muscles, thus depriving the digestive organs, to a certain extent^, and 

 rendering them unfit for the work of digestion. The animal should rest, 

 so that the circulation may become equalized, before food that he can 

 eat rapidly is given him. If fed grain, being hungry, he eats rapidly and 

 the stomach not being in condition to begin digestion, the food sours and 

 becomes more or less indigestible; if cold water is given at this time it 

 ]3revents, by chilling, the equalization of the blood throughout the diges- 

 tive organs and thus retards the digestive process still longer. If exer- 

 cised violently after feeding, the blood will be taken from the digestive 

 organs to the muscles, and digestion will be stopped to a greater or less 

 degree. Toward the end of the journey or day the horse tires, because 

 there is nothing in the blood to nourish the worn out muscles; when he 

 does reach the stable he refuses to feed, and has an attack of colic or 

 indigestion. "Make haste slowly" at the start. 



The violation of the proper principles of feeding sooner or later leads 

 to indigestion. This is recogniz;ed bv general unthriftiness^ rough "coat," 

 loss of "life." 



