CHAPTER XX 



FEEDING AND CARING FOR HORSES 



Skill and good judgment enter into the success or failure in feeding 

 and caring for horses even more than is the case with other classes of 

 stock. Two grooms may have similar conditions as to horses to be cared 

 for, work performed, and feed bins to draw from, yet they may secure 

 widely different results. In one case the team has an action and style 

 which at once announce it in the best of condition. In the other the 

 lagging step, dull eye, and rough coat tell better than words the lack 

 of judgment in feeding and management. The unsatisfactory condition 

 has not necessarily been brought about by any saving at the feed bin 

 and hay mow. Indeed, the good horseman will usually feed his team the 

 more economically. Nevertheless the principles of successful horse feed- 

 ing are simple and easily understood. If the few necessary rules and 

 precautions are observed, coupled with good judgment at all times, there 

 should be no difficulty in maintaining horses in fit condition to work 

 most efficiently. 



No one can study the practices of successful horsemen without being 

 strongly impressed with the fact that there are several ways of reaching 

 the desired end of high finish and fine action with the horse. If the 

 reader finds the counsel here given on feed and management not entirely 

 to his satisfaction, let him remember that we have chosen a rational and 

 generally applicable course, conceding that good results may also be 

 obtained by following other systems. 



I. THE BROOD MARE, FOAL, AND GROWING HORSE 



514. Feed and care of brood mare. It has been estimated that only 60 

 per ct. of the mares that are bred each year produce living colts. 1 Yet 

 the greater part of this enormous loss can be prevented by proper feed, 

 care, and management of the brood mare. Idleness, the bane of horse 

 breeding, should be avoided. (466) Working mares are more certain of 

 bringing good foals than idle ones, but judgment must always be used 

 in working them. Pulling too hard, backing heavy loads, wading thru 

 deep mud, or other over-exertion must be avoided. When not working, 

 the mare should be turned out daily for exercise. As foaling time ap- 

 proaches, the work should be lightened, and preferably discontinued 3 

 days to a week before foaling, altho in many instances mares have been 

 worked up to the day of foaling without harm. 2 When laid off, she should 



'McCampbell, Kan. Bui. 186. 



2 Harper, Management and Breeding of Horses, p. 284. 



319 



