HORSES. 117 



accompanied, sometimes, by passing the whip 

 lightly over the neck. 



When hay, or any other heavy load is placed 

 in a cart, to which a horse is attached, care and 

 judgment are necessary to adjust the weight 

 with respect to a balance, so that it may neither 

 bear nor hang too much ; for, if placed too 

 much in front, the stoutest horse might have 

 his back broken by the pressure. On the con- 

 trary, if it is placed too much behind, it may 

 even force him up from the ground. 



The food of horses used for labour is grass, 

 hay, oats, chaff, peas, beans, bran, and some- 

 times roots, as carrots, and even parsnips. A 

 change and mixture of food is generally bene- 

 ficial. Wheat, given in any considerable quan- 

 tity, will kill a horse. 



The careful and successful farmer is never 

 contented to let the management of his horses 



