FEEDING AND CARING FOE HORSES 335 



is also to be considered the effect of the food on the character of the 

 muscles formed from it, and especially on the nerve and mettle of the 

 horse. All horsemen agree in regarding oats as the one grain suitable 

 for animals where speed is sought regardless of cost of food. While this 

 opinion prevails in this country, we should remember that the Arab 

 horse usually subsists upon barley. 



For information on feeding the trotter we can draw from no better 

 source than Hiram Woodruff, 23 whose advice is here condensed. 



After weaning, trotting bred colts should be fed about 2 Ibs. of oats per 

 day, with an unlimited allowance of hay. As the colt grows older the 

 amount of oats should be increased to 4 Ibs. for the yearling, 6 Ibs. for the 

 2-year-old before training, and 8 to 12 Ibs. for the colt 2 to 3 years old in 

 training, an unlimited allowance of hay being given all this time. 



When going into winter quarters, the feed of the trotter should be re- 

 duced fully one-half in order to prevent fattening. A few carrots may be 

 given and a bran mash occasionally, with good clean, sweet hay. Horses 

 whose legs must undergo blistering or firing should have more cooling 

 feed, as mashes and carrots, with less oats, in order to reduce, the tendency 

 to feverish, inflammatory symptoms. Care must be taken not to permit 

 the animal to get flabby or washy by too much soft food while undergoing 

 treatment. Horses turned out to the field should be fed oats twice a day, 

 for the exposure to the severity of the weather increases the need of heat- 

 giving food. In the. spring when shedding, bran mashes are in order to 

 keep the bowels open, but not flax seed or linseed meal, which have, a ten- 

 dency to relax the system too suddenly and to cause the old hair to come 

 away before the new coat is well started. 



With the beginning of the season the feed should be increased to 8 to 10 

 Ibs. of oats daily, in which case the horse wants less hay, but may still have 

 all he will clean up unless he is a glutton. It is necessary to muzzle some 

 horses to prevent their eating the bedding, long before the time for the 

 race. No carrots or corn should now be given, unless it is necessary to 

 induce a light feeder to eat his oats by mixing a handful of corn with 

 them. 



During the jogging and after preparation, a bran mash about once a 

 week, depending on the condition of the horse's bowels, will be proper. 

 The trainer must never relax his vigilant observation, or let his judgment 

 sleep. During the fast work, preparatory to the coming trial, the horse 

 will be put upon his largest allowance of strong food. Some will not eat 

 more than 8 or 10 Ibs. of oats a day ; and it is necessary that such light 

 feeders be not over worked. A good feeder ought to have about 12 to 13 

 Ibs. of oats with a fair amount, say 6 to 8 Ibs., of hay. Some will eat 16 

 Ibs. of oats a day. 



538. Army horses. Oats, hay, and straw are the standard feeds used 

 for army horses by the great nations, since they best fill the following 

 rigid requirements: All provender for such purposes must not only be 



23 The Trotting Horse of America, pp. 90-105. 



