[22 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Daily 

 ration 

 for hard 

 work. 



Bulk 

 essential. 



Ration for 



moderate 



work. 



Method in 

 service. 



Method in 

 commer- 

 cial 

 stables. 



Methods 

 compared. 



Otherwise arise from it, irritating the horse's nostrils. If this is not done 

 the snorting of the animal may blow away a considerable quantity of 

 his feed. 



The economy and utility of chaff feeding cannot be over-estimated ; 

 it should be in every way encouraged when practicable. If very small 

 quantities only are obtainable, greedy feeders should be the first to 

 receive them. 



Amount of Food. 



The weight of food required by a hard-working horse varies from 

 about 24 to 32 lbs. of which about half is generally corn, and the remainder 

 must make a sufficiently bulky ration for the class of animal. Bulk is an 

 essential for a horse's diet : concentrated foods, no matter how nourishing, 

 will not maintain condition alone, and although an unlimited supply of 

 corn will sensibly diminish the amount of fodder consumed, it cannot 

 take its place, and the digestion will not support an unlimited corn ration 

 unless a sufficient bulk of fodder accompanies it. This is a notable fact 

 in the practical feeding of horses, and must not be lost sight of. Horses in 

 moderate work require 20 to 24 lbs. of which 10 to 12 lbs. should be corn. 

 As a subsistence ration, half this amount of corn and a full allowance of 

 hay should be allowed. 



Method of Feeding. 



There are two distinct . methods of feeding in vogue. In the 

 service and in private stables where long hay is used, horses are fed 

 with corn three or four times daily, and after consuming this a proportion 

 of hay is given. The majority of the hay is reserved till evening when 

 the animals are left with ample leisure to consume and digest it. The 

 other method is that adopted in many commercial stables, where the 

 whole of the hay is chaffed and mixed with the corn ; the supply of food 

 is made practically continuous throughout the day — one horse-keeper 

 being responsible for the feeding of eight to ten horses, and keeping 

 them supplied with the mixture. The same plan is practically followed 

 by the cabman, who puts on the nosebag, containing a mixture of corn 

 and chaff, at every available opportunity. There can be no doubt that 

 the latter of these two methods is preferable, and more in accord with 

 the horse's natural habits, but it is not practicable to carry it out in the 

 army, as the whole of the hay is given long. This being the case waste 

 should be minimised as far as possible by giving small quantities of hay 

 at frequent intervals instead of cramming the racks full once or twice. 



