STABLE MANAGEMENT 225 



working horses, Sir William Koberts, the great authority on 

 food, pointing out that they contain twice as much proteid 

 (flesh-forming) matter as wheat or oats, and nearly twice as 

 much lime, so their use in promoting the formation of bone 

 is of great value. They are also very rich in iron. There 

 is a prejudice in England against giving any grain but oats, 

 beans, and peas to animals engaged in fast work, but this is 

 not altogether justified, and many a horse might benefit in 

 his health if allowed a change in this respect. Horses which 

 are not thriving may well have the experiment tried, and 

 many seasons ago a stud of six horses belonging to a hunt- 

 ing and hard-riding doctor, with a large country practice, did 

 particularly well when their owner substituted maize for 

 their provender instead of oats. It was at first given to an 

 unthrifty animal, which was also in a weak state and unfit 

 for the work required of it, but in a short time there was 

 such a marvellous change in appearance and spirits, and also 

 in the capacity for work, that the doctor at once tried the 

 same diet for the remainder of the stud. One and all 

 throve upon it, though, since they had been in good 

 working order before, there was little alteration in their 

 appearance. 



Both maize and barley are more fattening than oats, but, 

 especially the latter, are more heatmg, and therefore more 

 easily upset the digestion, so that it is not advisable to give 

 a similar quantity of either, as of oats. Whatever the allow- 

 ance may be it should be at once reduced and a bran mash 

 given, with a little sulphur added to it, directly a disagree- 

 able flatulence is noticed, or worse results may ensue. 

 Animals daily doing hard work can consume with benefit a 

 larger quantity of corn than when comparatively idle, as is 

 well shov/n by the Government rations for troop horses, 

 which are usually 10 lbs. of oats, 12 lbs. of hay, and 8 lbs. of 

 straw per diem (the last being used for bedding only) ; but 

 when the duty is severe, or when the horses are in camp, 

 from 2 lbs. to 4 lbs. additional oats are allowed. Even this is 

 frequently not enough under the extra work they are called 

 upon to perform, as a captain of a troop often knows only 

 too well. It is not an unknown practice, when field opera- 



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