OATMEAL AND H-O. 403 



OATMEAL. 



" Gruel made from oatmeal is palatable and refreshing to a tired horse. 

 The stomach seems to assimilate it more readily than hard corn. The very 

 best fresh coarsely ground oatmeal should be used. Good gruel is made 

 by putting about a double handful of oatmeal into a pail and pouring on it 

 a little cold water. After being well stirred a gallon and a half of hot but 

 not boiling water must be added and the whole stirred again. Boiling water 

 should not be used because it produces a more starchy compound than is 

 suitable for the stomach of the horse in an exhausted condition. The tem- 

 perature should be reduced to that of new milk before given ; if the horse 

 is very much overtasked it may be advisable to add to it a wineglassful of 

 spirits or a pint of ale." Sir P. Fitzwygram, "Horses and Stables" p. 62. 



Gruel may also be made of linseed, as described under 



linseed. 



" Oatmeal, in the form of gruel, constitutes one of the most important 

 articles of diet for the sick horse j not indeed forced upon hjm, but a pail 

 containing it being slung in his box, and of which he will soon begin to 

 drink when water is denied. Few grooms make good gruel; it is either 

 not boiled long enough, or a sufficient quantity of oatmeal has not been 

 used. The proportions should be, a pound of meal thrown into a gallon 

 of water, and kept constantly stirred until it boils, and five minutes after- 

 wards. 



" White water, made by stirring a pint of oatmeal in a pail of water, 

 the chill being taken from it, is an excellent beverage for the thirsty and 

 tired horse." William Youatt, " The Horse," p. 133. 



H-O. 



H-O (the residuum of oatmeal manufactured for table 

 use) has been recommended to the writer by many who have 

 successfully employed it as fodder. It is considered a cheap 

 form of food for horses out of work, and when mixed with 

 oats is an excellent substitute for a pure oat diet for horses 

 in work. It is sold in sacks of one hundred pounds and 

 costs about fifty cents per sack. 



