164 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



then saddle him, and lead him about smartly so as to make 

 him trot ; then put weights in the saddle, adding more and 

 more till he carries the full weight of a Man. If he be 

 very fractious, lead him with another Horse. After he has 

 been broke to leading well, and carrying burdens, let him 

 be gently mounted, while some Person holds him, and rode 

 about in a ploughed field, with another Horse before him^ 

 if necessary, until he learns to go by himself. 



In teaching a young Horse to draw, the same gentleness 

 should be used ; first puting him with a gentle Horse that 

 is true to draw ; then loading him lightly, and gradually 

 heavier, till he has learned, like his fellow, to exert his 

 utmost strength. 



Horses should have a dry pasture, and a good shade in it. 

 Mr. L*Hommedieu makes mention of a Horse which was, 

 always kept in a dry poor pasture of wild grass ; and yet 

 was always fat; and the reason assigned for this was, that 

 the Horse, for want of water, learned to feed at night, 

 when the dew is on, which renders the grass more 

 nourishing. 



The best method of keeping working Horses in Summer, 

 where it can be conveniently done, is to soil them ; that is, 

 to feed them in stables, cuting and carrying in grass to 

 feed them. The grass should be cut and carried in during 

 the morning, while the dew is on. They should also have 

 a yard adjoining the stable, in which they may run at large 

 at times. This practice is a great saving of pasture-land; 

 the Horses will keep much better, and they are always at 

 hand for service. 



Clover, whether green or dry, is considered one of the 

 most nourishing grasses for Horses; but, if clover-hay be 

 fed to them for some time, it produces too great a degree 

 of looseness. Clover and timothy together is therefore the 

 best. When grain is given them, let it be either ground^ 

 or boiled. 



A Horse never should be exercised so severely as to 

 make him sweat profusely; or, if he be, let him be well 

 covered until his skin and hair be dried, and in the mean 

 lime thoroughly rubed down. He should at all times be kept 

 clean, and his skin curried, but not too severely. 



A very common error with Farmers is, to keep more 

 Horses than they want, and to keep them all but poorly; 

 but the reverse of this only can be called economy. Keep 

 but few Horses, and keep them well. On a stock or dairy- 

 farm, of a hundred acres, two Horses, if properly kept, are 

 sufficient ; and double that number is enough on a farm 

 of the same size that is kept under the plough ; or rather, 

 on such farm, two Horses and a yoke of Oxen may, per- 

 haps, be found advisable. 



<&* 



