Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 103 



differently. He must be made as presentable as possible so that 

 he will please the public, and as condition generally improves 

 symmetry and hides faults it is best to bring him out in the pink 

 of condition. Condition in a horse, however, does not mean having 

 him boxed up and fed like a pig and getting him covered with fat. 

 Conditioning a horse is getting him in good health and spirits, 

 improving his movements and muscle, putting some heart into him. 

 It is comparatively easy to fatten a heavy horse; but it is a mistake 

 to do so at the beginning of the travelling season, and have him 

 falling off during the season. 



To give satisfaction a horse should be thriving and improving 

 during the time of travelling, and those horses that have to work 

 during winter are more likely to do so than those that have been 

 fed up all winter. To develop the muscle we must feed him 

 judiciously, keep him in a natural state, and exercise him regularly. 

 For that purpose there is no better feed than oats and bran. 

 Animals vary so much in their requirements, and in their ability to 

 digest and assimilate rich food in their system, that it is difficult 

 to name any given quantity which a horse should have as a daily 

 ration. As much good hay should be given as the horse can eat 

 the oats and bran being given sparingly at first, and gradually 

 increased as the system of the animal can absorb them. It must 

 always be remembered that a horse has a very small stomach in 

 proportion to his size. Consequently he cannot consume and digest 

 a large quantity of bulky fodder, and a stallion on travel, or one 

 that is being got up in condition, should have most of his food in a 

 concentrated form, given at short intervals as many times a day as 

 possible. Sixteen pounds of oats and two pounds of bran may be 

 taken as a fair standard for this class of horse, the quantity to 

 be varied according to circumstances. The oats should be bruised 

 and mixed with chopped hay cut about an inch in length, so that 

 the animal may be compelled to chew it. If the hay is cut too 

 short it is very likely to be bolted without chewing, and if oats are 

 given whole and without being mixed with chop some horses will 

 swallow them without chewing, and they are passed through the 

 system undigested. The groom in charge must be observant and 

 use his discretion regarding the quantity to give a horse, and the 

 owner must allow him ample scope to use his own discretion. 

 Beans in small quantities are of great value to a horse that is 

 working hard; but it is not advisable to use them for an idle 

 stallion; and maize tends rather to produce fat than muscle. A 

 little boiled linseed given once a week helps to keep the digestive 

 organs healthy. 



