222 THE HORSE. 
even by the most dainty horse, but in a day or two he finds it disagrees 
with his stomach, and he will then leave the contents of his rack 
untouched. Of course there are many degrees of ‘‘mowburn,” but unless 
the hay is only slightly affected it is better to avoid using it, as it may 
produce irreparable injury on the stomach or lungs. Half rations of good 
food are far better than an unlimited quantity of bad hay and corn, and 
this the horsemaster soon learns by experience, but often not until he has 
paid for it by the production of some serious disease. The staying powers 
of the horse are dependent upon the quantity and quality of the corn he 
has eaten, but his health is chiefly affected by his hay. ‘This is an 
important consideration to every stableman, and of its truth I am con- 
vinced from thirty years’ experience with my own horses as well as 
numberless others. Such are the qualities and evidences of good hay; 
let us now examine into those belonging to this kind of food when it is 
of an opposite nature. 
Musty hay may be detected by its peculiar smell, by its dark colour 
and mouldy appearance, which last is produced by the fungous growths 
that are the seat of the mischief. Sometimes these fungi have been de- 
veloped without any heat, which generally occurs when the hay has been 
left out in bad weather, and has been got in at last pretty well dried in 
the main, but with a few damp patches mixed in with the rest. These 
are not sufficient to develop the fermentation, of which excessive heating 
is the result; but, remaining damp, they give rise to fungi instead. No 
hay is so unwholesome as this, and it is instinctively refused by all horses 
antil they are driven to eat it by starvation. Salt is often used to induce 
horses to eat it, but, though it will have that effect to a certain extent, it 
scarcely makes it at all less unwholesome, and the groom must not fancy 
that his charge will escape the ill effects which result from musty hay in 
every shape. It is also often cut into chaff with straw ; but this plan also 
has no advantage ; and in every way musty hay may be considered as a 
poison to the horse, and not a very slow one. 
Weather-beaten hay is that which has lain out in the rain for many days 
before it could be got in dry. It is generally but not necessarily musty, 
but if not so, it is devoid of nourishment, the soluble matters fit for food 
having been mostly washed out of it. It may be known by its faint, 
sickly smell, by its sapless and withered appearance, by the absence of 
seed, and by the presence of dust. The colour varies greatly, depending 
upon the management ; for if the hay has not been put together in cocks 
during the making, it does not blacken, but remains of a pale, dirty, olive 
green. No one who cares for the health and condition of the inmates of 
his stable should use such hay in it; for he will find it not nearly se 
nourishing as good barley straw, while it will assuredly disagree with the 
stomachs of his horses, and then not only do no good to them, but prove 
positively injurious. 
The quantity of hay which is required, if given alone, will average about 
14 cwt. per week for a horse of middle size and good constitution. This, 
however, is but an approximation to the truth ; for in half-a-dozen horses 
there will be scarcely two which will require the same quantity of food to 
keep them in health. Hay alone is poor food, and, unless corn is given 
‘with it, the stomach refuses to digest enough for the nourishment of the 
body. Some low-bred animals are like donkeys in their constitutions, 
and will thrive upon hay alone ; but these are exceptions to the rule, and 
they are only to be met with among horses which have been brought up 
on this poor diet. I have known one stable in which the carriage-horses 
