312 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



cow or sheep. The horse cannot use as much bulky 

 food as a cow. Farm horses are quite commonly fed too 

 much hay, particularly if they are used on the road. The 

 driving horse should not have so much hay as is fed to 

 the farm team. When teams are regularly working, it is 

 best to feed them only about one-fourth of the day's 

 ration in the morning and one-fourth at noon, and feed 

 half the ration at night, when they have time to eat and 

 digest it. If a horse is not warm, it is better to water 

 before feeding. The water then passes on to the intestines 

 and makes room for the feed in the stomach. If a horse 

 is very warm, it should not be watered or fed until it cools 

 off. 



Dusty Hay is one of the worst things for horses. It 

 is the chief cause of heaves. Clover is much worse than 

 timothy in this respect. Timothy is always to be preferred 

 for horses, while clover is better for cows or sheep. If dusty 

 hay must be fed, it should be sprinkled before feeding. 

 Usually, it will pay to buy good hay for the horses and 

 make some other use of that which is dusty. 



Care of the Legs. When a team comes in with muddy 

 legs, they should be rubbed down or washed, particularly 

 in cold weather. Horses, as well as men, can get rheu- 

 matism. In general, it is well to devote more time to the 

 legs, even if the back is neglected. 



Bits. When the bits are colder than freezing, they 

 should be warmed by putting them in water, even freez- 

 ing water, or by taking them into a warm room. It is 

 not the direct effect of cold that hurts, but the frosty 

 bit freezes to the tongue and mouth and may tear the skin. 

 If one doubts this, he should touch the tip of his tongue 



