FEEDING. 207 



but this is not sufficient ; it should be continued for forty- 

 eight hours to have its laxative effect, some corn, bruised, 

 being mixed with it on the first day, but given quite plain 

 on the last. As the mash is invariably bolted, not masti- 

 cated, the oats must be crushed. Some horses will not 

 touch a mash unless it has some oats sprinkled on the top 

 or mixed through it. A horse well prepared with mashes 

 requires fewer drachms of the aloes, h. very common 

 practice with some lazy grooms is to leave the bran mash 

 for days before the animal. The mixture should invariably 

 be given fresh as prepared, for if allowed to stand it fer- 

 ments, fouls the woodwork of the manger or bucket, and 

 nauseates the patient, who will plainly exhibit his disgust 

 at the unsavoury mess by standing back away from it as far 

 as possible. 



The following is a good mash for horses in ordinary work 

 which, on the supposition that they rest on Sundays, as they 

 ought to do, may be given with great advantage for the last 

 feed on Saturday night. Place half a pint of well-cleaned 

 linseed in a porcelain-lined or enamelled saucepan, pour on 

 it one quart of boiling water, cover up closely, and leave to 

 soak for three or four hours. At the same time pour boil- 

 ing water on a very clean, sweet, bucket, half full of fresh 

 bran, till well saturated, then closely cover up. When 

 reduced to milk heat, make a hole in the middle of the 

 mash to receive the linseed jelly, and thoroughly mix the 

 whole mass. 



Some horses shy of bran will greedily devour a mash 

 made of malt ; this mixture may be substituted, and will 

 be found grateful, after a long tiring day, a chill, or when 

 recovering from illness. 



Of all roots those most relished by horses are carrots^ 

 Parsnips are too fattening. Swedes, excellent for farm 



