HORSES AND MULES 



343 



liverymen, there is some prejudice against alfalfa on account of 

 the general belief that it overworks the kidneys. A part of this 

 prejudice is no doubt due to the fact that too much alfalfa is fed, 

 and part is due to the fact that the hay was harvested too green. 

 Alfalfa, to be fed to horses, should be cut when the plant is in 

 full bloom, or later than for cattle, sheep, or hogs. Cowpea hay 

 is similar in composi- 

 tion and efficiency to 

 clover and alfalfa, and 

 like them it is a good 

 feed for horses work- 

 ing moderately. 



Oat hay, when cut 

 in the dough stage, 

 makes very nutritive 

 and highly satisfactory 

 roughage for horses 

 and mules. Sorghum 

 hay is used extensively 

 in many localities with 

 good results as a horse 

 feed. For fattening 

 mules and horses, it is 

 highly esteemed. Corn 

 stover is a cheap and 

 satisfactory roughage 

 for idle horses. If fed 

 in excess without other 



feed it may cause " impaction" and death. If properly balanced 

 with nitrogenous feeds, oat straw may be used as a roughage for 

 horses and mules. Millet hay is not a safe roughage for horses, 

 since when fed in large quantities, or for a long time, it causes 

 swollen joints, lameness, and other serious results. Ordinarily 

 too much hay is fed to work horses, especially to those doing 

 hard work. A horse cannot work to advantage when its stomach 

 is overloaded with hay. About one fourth of the daily allowance 



FIG. 175. The sole of a horse's foot 



a, lower border of the wall ; , , the bars ; c, c, bulbs 

 of the heel ; d, the frog ; <?, white line, or place at which 

 horse-shoe nail should enter hoof when a horse is shod 



