Feed and Care of the Horse Rations. 295 



Some will eat sixteen quarts of oats a day, but my belief is that three 

 quarts of it does more harm than good." 



Splan tells us 1 that Rarus, in the hottest part of the summer, con- 

 sumed 15 Ibs. of oats per day, which he regarded as the maximum 

 for a strong, energetic 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. 



464. Feeding the carriage horse. Style and action are prerequi- 

 sites with the carriage horse, economy of feeding standing second. 

 Oats easily lead among concentrates, for any good driver will tell 

 us that the oat-fed horse exhibits mettle as from no other feed. For 

 variety, rolled wheat or barley with bran may form a part of the 

 ration. From 8 to 10 quarts of oats or their equivalent, divided 

 into 3 feeds, should suffice for concentrates, the evening meal being 

 the largest. A bran mash should be given at least weekly if bran 

 is not more regularly used. The hay is usually fed long, for the 

 carriage horse has plenty of time for his meals. From 10 to 12 Ibs. 

 of hay is a liberal allowance, bringing the total ration within 20 or 

 22 Ibs. The carriage horse must be trim in body, and so cannot con- 

 sume much bulky food, yet we should not forget that the ration 

 must have volume in order that the digestive functions proceed 

 normally. Carriage horses are usually overfed and exercised irreg- 

 ularly or too little, and mainly for these reasons their period of sat- 

 isfactory service is often brief. On days when they are not driven, 

 oats should be fed only at noon, with a bran mash morning and 

 evening, no difference being made in the quantity of roughage fed. 



465. The work horse. Under favorable conditions, the regular- 

 ity in work, feeding, and rest brings comfort and long years of use- 

 fulness to the work horse. In what has preceded, the feeds suit- 

 able for this animal have been quite fully considered. From 10 to 18 

 Ibs. of concentrates should be fed daily, according to the severity of 

 the labor, the total grain and hay averaging not less than 2 Ibs. per 

 100 Ibs. of horse. From half to two-thirds of the concentrates should 

 be fed at the evening meal, mixed with a peck of moistened chaffed 

 hay. The mid-day meal is sometimes omitted, especially with horses 

 out on the street all day, tho most horsemen hold that some grain 

 should be given then. 



1 Life with the Trotters. 



