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but the straw of warm climates is more nutritious than ours. 1 have 

 not found barley to disagree with Horses, but it is not so nutritious and 

 strengthening as oats, the black species of which, is said to be equal, 

 if not superior in quality to the white, an opinion, I believe, not 

 grounded on any correct experiment. Oats should be perfectly sweet, 

 short, i)lump, and free of husk as possible, and I have reason to judge 

 that generally, the best are cheapest. New oats disagree with Horses 

 by loosing their bellies too much, and if used before Christmas, should 

 be previously dried upon a kiln, or in an oven. The hard, upland and 

 benty hay is always preferred for saddle-horses, the quick and continued 

 exertions of which require dry and substantial food, imparting a firm 

 and astrictive tone to their bowels. 



Relative to feeding the saddle-Horse, there has always subsisted a 

 question, but like many others, a moment's consideration is sufficient 

 to set it at rest. It has been demanded, why keep your Horse at full 

 feeding of corn, if you seldom use him ? — he may and ought to be fed 

 according to his work. Most truly, there is practicability, and I suppose 

 economy, for I never wish to prove it, in this as well as other make- 

 shifts. The Horse will certainly subsist on hay alone, so that a small 

 daily portion of corn maybe allowed, a half or even a quarter of a peck 

 and his remaining cravings and vacuums be iilled up with hay. And 

 this may do very well for him, who is insensible to, and craves not, the 

 luxury of riding his horse in high condition, in the full possession of 

 his vigour, his gaiety and his powers. These half kept Horses must 

 be put to no extraordinary exertions, of which they are altogether 

 incapable, without the risk of considerable, perhaps irreparable inj ury. 



To keep a Horse in high condition, that both in appearance and 

 courage he may exhibit himself to the best advantage, and be able to 

 act up to his highest qualification, of whatever degree in the scale of 

 excellence, that may chance to be, it is before all things else necessary, 

 that he have as large a daily allowance of solid corn as his stomach 

 will reduce to a healthy digestion. The next requisites, are thorough 

 grooming and sufficient daily exercise. A¥ here labour is not constant, 

 exercise is indispensable, or the morbid effects of over repletion and 

 nutrition must assuredly succeed, as a legitimate consequence of cause 



and 



