298 Feeds and Feeding. 



well to leave the feeding of horses to their own driver, for he has his 

 likes and dislikes, and the favorites are quite certain to receive more 

 than their proper allowance of grain, while the others suffer. A 

 watchful superintendent must ever be on the alert to see that each 

 animal secures the needed provender. 



469. Exercise. The Arabs have a saying, "Kest and fat are the 

 greatest enemies of the horse." The horse is par excellence the crea- 

 ture of motion, and in its feeding and management we should hold 

 this point ever in view. The prudent horseman will bear in mind 

 that correlative with liberal feeding there must be hearty exercise 

 or severe labor, and that these conditions may be happily balanced. 

 As soon as hard labor ceases, or constant and vigorous exercise is 

 over, it w r ill be found absolutely necessary to reduce the allowance 

 of food if the proper balance is to be maintained. The idle horse 

 should be limited to less than half the grain given while on regular 

 duty, and in some instances it were better to give none, provided the 

 roughage supplied be of good quality. 



A colt fed heavily on suitable nutrients will grow rapidly and 

 develop good bone and strong muscle, provided at all times there be a 

 proper balance between exercise and feed. The highly-fed colt should 

 be out of doors from 8 to 10 hours a day, and should move several 

 miles each day either in the field, on the track, or both. A mature 

 horse should be in the open air not less than 4 or 5 hours a day and 

 should travel from 10 to 15 miles daily to maintain health. 



II. EATIONS. 



470. Rations. The following rations by various authorities should 

 be helpful in determining the amount of feed required by the horse 

 under varying conditions : 



A. Rations from various sources. 

 Trotting bred colts Hiram Woodruff 1 



Weaning time 2 -yr.- old in training 



Oats, 2 Ibs. Oats, 8 Ibs. 



Hay, unlimited allowance Hay, limited allowance 



l-yr.-old 3-yr.-old in training 



Oats, 4 Ibs. Oats, 8-12 Ibs. 



Hay, unlimited allowance Hay, limited allowance 



2-yr.-old 

 Oats, 6 Ibs. 

 Hay, unlimited allowance 



1 The Trotting Horse of America. 



