DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 5 



too high; in fact, it is better to feed hay from the ground, which 

 is the natural way for a horse to get its food. If racks are used, 

 they should not be- higher than the shoulder. The grain boxes 

 should be in one end of the manger (rack). If the horse has a 

 habit of throwing his hay out under his feet, nail a few slats 

 across the rack. If he is a greedy eater, put a few cobble-stones 

 in his grain box. 



Horses, while working, should be groomed (cleaned with 

 a curry-comb and brush) thoroughly once or twice a day. Use 

 a fine-tooth curry-comb and a stiff brush, and thoroughly work 

 all the dirt and dust out of the hair each time of grooming. It is 

 claimed by some good authorities on this subject that the curry- 

 comb and brush, well used, is worth half-feed. Good grooming 

 keeps the skin clean and healthy, and makes the hair short, sleek 

 and glossy. If your stable is cold, a blanket should be kept on 

 your horse during the cold weather. It is very important and 

 necessary that a .street-blanket be had to put on your horse while 

 he is standing in the cold. It is a cruel practice to hitch a horse 

 in the street, either in the hot sun or cold wind, and let him stay 

 for hours, as some do. If you have to hitch a horse out in a cold 

 wind or storm, stand him with his tail to the wind. Don't be 

 cruel and abusive to a horse. Be kind, but firm, to him, and he 

 will obey you better than a hired servant. There is no excuse in 

 working poor horses in a country like this, where so much grass 

 and feed can be raised in abundance, with so little labor; and 

 yet we often see poor horses and mules working to wagons with 

 galled shoulders, and writhing under the whip of a cruel master. 

 These are the farmers who have grassy crops and never get them 

 cleaned out in time to receive the rain necessary to mature them. 

 To prevent this cruel, barbarous treatment to stock, every town 

 and community should form a humane society, whose object 

 shall be the prevention of cruelty to animals. Texas has a law 

 making it a misdemeanor to cruelly mistreat or abuse the horse, 

 but it is not enforced. 



