OF FARRIERY. 



225 



As we stated before, in the healthy state of 

 the stomach, the animal's appetite is such as 

 leads him to eat that only which is fit for the 

 formation of pure blood. This food is grass, 

 for he is certainly by nature a graminivorous 

 animal. The Horse's stomach is remarkably 

 small, and requires to be frequently supplied 

 with food ; therefore, in a state of nature, we 

 find him almost constantly feeding. How 

 great then must be the change which the 

 animal suffers when brought into the stable, 

 and what serious evils ought we not to ex- 

 pect, unless this change is gradually brought 

 about, and his diet and exercise carefully 

 attended to? When we consider for a mo- 

 ment in what manner he is generally treated, 

 there cannot be any difficulty in believing that 

 the stomach must of necessity be brought into 

 a morbid condition. The labour he is em- 

 ployed in is generally excessive, the food he 

 is supplied with is often deficient in nutri- 

 ment which is natural to his stomach ; for, 

 even grain is not suitable, because not natural 

 food ; and we find that Horses which have 

 alvVdys been kept in a state of nature will 

 refuse grain, and require some time, and the 

 stimulus of hunger, to be brought to it. Good 

 hay will always be preferred by such Horses, 

 especially when it has that fragrant smell, 

 greenish colour, and herbage, which it ought 

 always to have. But considering the use to 

 which the Horse is applied, grain becomes a 

 necessary diet for him, and if properly dis- 

 pensed, is the best food that can be given 

 him. Hay, when really good, such as will be 

 described, and given in moderation, is a very 

 suitable diet for the Horse, but requires to be 

 assisted with grain, in a quantity proportionate 

 to ills work. Some grain should always be 

 given, as without it, the quantity of hay 



necessary for his support would so distend the 

 stomach, as to induce gradually, by a continu- 

 ance of such feeding, a morbid or depraved 

 appetite. As it is, the hay generally given to 

 Horses, even that which is considered good, is 

 so deficient in nutriment, difficult of digestion, 

 and eaten in such immoderate quantities, that 

 the laborious exertions required in the mus- 

 cular structure of the stomach to extract what 

 nutritive matter it does contain, is such, as 

 must of necessity bring on a morbid or de- 

 praved appetite ; and, what is of still greater 

 consequence, if possible, an exhausted state 

 of its sensorial power. 



Wheat straw, when the reed has been 

 carefully separated from it, is much better 

 fodder for Horses than what is called middling 

 or indifferent hay; but the daily quantity 

 should never exceed four or five pounds. 

 Grain must be more freely given in this case, 

 of course, and considering the price of straw, 

 this can well be afforded ; but such a diet is 

 far better than that commonly given to Horses 

 in this country. 



In France, wheat straw is rery commonly 

 employed as food for Horses ; and their man- 

 ner of distributing the diet of Horses, well 

 deserves the imitation of the Horse-owners of 

 this country. The daily allowance is given 

 at three times a day, viz. ; a moderate quan- 

 tity early in the morning, a smaller quantity 

 at noon, and the largest portion at night. So 

 general is the practice in this country of 

 giving Horses an immoderate quantity of hay, 

 of giving bad hay, of distributing the daily 

 allowance injudiciously, both of water and 

 oats ; of giving beans unbroken, of working 

 Horses while their stomachs are distended 

 with food, by which much mischief is done, 

 and many fatal diseases brought on. ISo 

 3 i. 



