56 HORSE-KEEPING FOR AMATEURS. 



a few more peas or beans may advantageously be given. As 

 a result of close experience of a considerable number of horses, 

 I have come to the conclusion that most of them do best on 

 a diet which is occasionally varied. For instance, when spring 

 comes, the hay, or part thereof, may be withdrawn, and its 

 place taken by green meat, such as tares, vetches, &c. Then 

 less chaff or less corn may be used, and the deficiency made 

 up with roots, carrots and parsnips being the best, though 

 good sweet mangolds are by no means to be despised in this 

 category. In dealing with hunters, however, I would recom- 

 mend that neither these things, nor green food, should be 

 given until the season is over ; but they are a splendid and 

 natural alterative in the spring, and infinitely to be preferred 

 to the administering of drugs in any shape. 



Bran-mashes should be given regularly once or twice a week, 

 and always hot in the winter. If the coat is rough, or at all 

 harsh, and inclined to dryness, nothing is so likely to do good 

 as linseed, either made into a hot mash, or given as a demul- 

 cent drink, tepid. A carrot-mash is also a most useful thing 

 for such cases, and, when a horse is " done up " by a long 

 day's work, a couple of double handfuls of oatmeal in hot 

 water, cold being added afterwards, may often tempt him 

 back to appetite and comfort. 



As regards drinking, I am a strong advocate for letting a 

 horse take as much as he feels inclined to. Depend upon it, he 

 will not take more than is good for him ; only do not let the 

 water be too cold. Nature teaches him to prefer the muddy 

 stream to the clearest and brightest of hard water, and we 

 cannot do better than profit by the hint. Water should 

 always be allowed to stand for some time exposed to the air, 

 and if in the winter, should remain in the stable or harness- 

 room an hour or two before drinking. Colic so frequently 

 attends in the wake of taking cold, hard water, that one 

 cannot exercise too much care. Warm drinks, consisting of 

 oatmeal, linseed, or flour gruel, as already indicated, are 

 invaluable in cases of exhaustion, &c. 



For horses of slow draught, maize is a good food, though I 

 should, without hesitation, discard it for any others, such as 

 hunters, carriage-horses, &;c. It is, certainly, a flesh-making 

 corn, though I doubt whether it would be as efficacious in 

 picking up an animal in poor condition as either white peas 

 or beans. 



