HAY TEA — HEAD 



and softer to the touch than that of a greater age, but good 

 hay well harvested is generally at its best at about eighteen 

 months old. A truss of hay should weigh 56 lbs., new hay 

 occupying more space than old, and weighing 60 lbs., 30 

 trusses of either going to a load. (See Chaff, Feeding, 

 Mildew) 



Hay Tea is a very useful drink for a sick horse, and 

 may be regarded as equivalent to barley water in the case 

 of a human invalid. The way to prepare it is to fill a stable 

 pail three parts full with the best hay procurable, and fill 

 up with boiling water. Then place a cover on the pail and 

 leave to soak ; the fluid is fit for the horse to drink when 

 cold and it has been drained off. 



Head, — According to the ideas of most people the forma- 

 tion of a horse's head supplies an insight into the disposi- 

 tion of the animal, a heavy, coarse head being regarded as 

 likely to be associated with a sullen temperament, whilst 

 an elegant one is usually connected with vivacity and high 

 spirit. At the same time, many a sour-headed horse has 

 proved himself to be a determined plodder, and therefore 

 it is unwise to discard an animal solely because of such a 

 failing. It must be remembered, too, that in the case of 

 some breeds a head that would be heavy in another variety 

 is the thing that is required in it : for instance, the elegant, 

 refined head of the blood-horse would look ridiculous on a 

 hackney or coacher, and that of the Shire is coarser than 

 the headpiece of a Clydesdale. Regarding the light breeds 

 of horse, such as the hunter and various harness breeds, it 

 may be observed that the forehead should be flat and carried 

 in a straight line down the face to the nostrils, a project- 

 ing forehead or Roman nose being regarded as unsightly. 

 There should be plenty of depth and width of the jowl, from 

 which point it should taper, more or less according to the 

 breed, towards the muzzle. The eyes should be of good 

 size, but not too large, and the ears small and fine, their 



160 



