PASTURING AND TURNING OUT 475 



that a horse given an unlimited quantity of grass cannot 

 be taken up at any time and put through the same amount 

 of work that he performs when given his full quota of 

 oats and is daily groomed. A horse derives much benefit 

 from the use of a dirt paddock in the early morning and 

 evening; or if left out on warm clear nights such treatment 

 should not prove detrimental to his working condition. The 

 same care in turning a horse into a paddock should be taken 

 as is advised for an animal being acclimated to pasturing. 

 The idea that roughing it hardens the horse and tones up 

 his constitution has long since been proved fallacious, and 

 none but the most ignorant master would think of turning 

 his horse out in the rain, wind and snow unprotected either 

 by clothing or the shelter of a shed or barn. The transition 

 from a condition of working activity to that of quiet graz- 

 ing should be gradual in every respect. The amount of 

 oats given and the blanketing should be lessened, and the 

 horse accustomed to little or no clothing before being finally 

 turned out. 



As a precautionary measure against sprains, etc., the 

 horse should be given some hard work before being allowed 

 to enjoy his limited freedom. A bright warm day should be 

 chosen on which to begin the outing, and in spring, fall and 

 winter the horse should be turned out in the middle of the day 

 for only a short time, half an hour or a trifle longer is suffi- 

 cient. As the horse's appetite for the coveted clover is very 

 sharp for the first few days, he should be prevented from phys- 

 icking himself by being either fed just before he is turned 

 loose or by muzzling. At any season of the year, except 

 midsummer, the horse should be afforded for a few days 

 the protection of an old blanket, either heavy or light de- 



