188 STABLE ECONOMY. 



the very same state if he were getting an equal weight of 

 oats. 



If beans do not afford more nutriment, weight for weight of 

 oats, they at least produce more lasting vigor. To use a com- 

 mon expression, they keep the stomach longer. The horse 

 can travel farther ; he is not so soon exhausted. " I remem- 

 ber." says Nimrod, " hearing Mr. Warde exclaim, as his 

 hounds were settling to their fox, ' Now we shall see what 

 horses eat old oats, and what eat new.' I am inclined to 

 think that this distinction may be applied to horses that eat 

 beans, and those that eat none, for they help to bring him 

 home at the end of a long day, and support his strength in the 

 run." I believe Nimrod is quite right. In the coaching- 

 stables beans are almost indispensable to horses that have to 

 run long stages. They afford a stronger and more permanent 

 stimulus than oats alone, however good. Washy horses, 

 those of slender carcass, can not perform severe work without 

 a liberal allowance of beans ; and old horses need them more 

 than the young. The quantity varies from three to six pounds 

 per day ; but in some of the coaching-stables the horses get 

 more, a pound of oats being deducted for every pound of beans. 

 Cart-horses are often fed on beans, to the exclusion of all 

 other grain, but they are always given with dry bran, which 

 is necessary to keep the bowels open, and to ensure mastica- 

 tion. Beans are not in general use for racehorses, but are 

 sometimes given to bad eaters. They are usually split and 

 hulled, which is a superfluous process. For old hrrses they 

 should be broken or bruised. 



The bowels are very apt to become constipated, and danger- 

 ously obstructed when the horse is getting a large allowance 

 of beans. They are so constipating that, as they are increased 

 in quantity, bran must be added in proportion. Beans, and 

 bean-straw, which is as constipating as the beans, should not 

 be both used at the same time. 



Some horses will not eat beans. The Irish horses, when 

 first brought to this country, always refuse them ; they invari- 

 ably pick out the oats and leave the beans. It does not ap- 

 pear that they dislike them, for after they begin, they feed as 

 well as other horses. Ultimately, they seem to discover that 

 beans are for eating, although it is often a long time ere they 

 make the discovery. 



The horse, however, may soon be taught. Let him fast 

 for an hour beyond the feeding-time, and then give him half 

 a ration of beans without oats. If he still reject them, offci 



