FOODS AND FEEDING. 127 



flesh, but occasionally a timid^ delicate feeder will be met, more especially 

 in the light, well-bred class. If carefully treated such animals may 

 become quite normal feeders, and they improve in this respect as they 

 carry more flesh. They should be fed apart until they show good appetite 

 and will often feed at night, although they w^U not clear up in the day ; if 

 this is the case no more than they will consume at the moment should be 

 given at each feed until nightfall, w^hen they may be left with an ample 

 supply. For such horses a constant water supply is often of the greatest 

 benefit, and frequent changes of food are attended with good results ; 

 small quantities of scraped carrots or chopped green meat mixed with 

 the grain feed will often tempt them to eat much more than they other- 

 wise would, whilst rock salt may be profitably left in the manger. 



Feeding of Special Cases. 



Horses which bolt their food. — In open stables horses learn to feed Horses 

 greedily ; they consume their grain with the greatest rapidity, either to which bolt 

 see what they can steal from their neighbours or from fear that they will ^"^^^ ^°°"- 

 themselves be robbed. To prevent the greedy habit as much as possible, 

 chaff should form a part of each feed, and the more the better. Any horses 

 which, in spite of this, are known to bolt their food, should have it spread 

 out thinly over as wide a surface as possible to prevent them getting 

 large mouthfuls ; a manger with several bars across the top to 

 divide it into compartments, or a few large round stones placed 

 among the feed are also methods of preventing the bolter from securing 

 the huge mouthful which he delights in. 



Horses subject to diat-rhcca as a result of work should have their corn. Horses 

 of whatever variety it is. well ground to assist their digestion ; the addi- subject to 

 tion of a little dry bran to each feed is also a good plan, but water should diarrhoea 

 not be withheld from such horses under the idea that it will keep the Qf^Q^k" 

 bowels firm. They are usually excitable animals, and the diarrhoea is 

 really a nervous affection ; when at rest the droppings of such animals are 

 quite normal. 



Windsiickers a?id crib-biters should, if possible, be fed apart from the Wind- 

 rest and in such a way as to prevent them practising the habit. Turning suckers 

 them round m the stall on the pillar chains, and feeding from a mov- ^^ ^"°" 

 able manger and hay net is a very useful method in stables, and the 

 wearing of a hollow bit or cribbing strap is a preventive. When the crib- 

 biter can be accommodated in a box, with four blank walls, and fed off 

 the ground, this is the best plan, till he learns to windsuck. The habit 

 may be learnt by adjacent horses and hence the desirability of separating 

 those which have acquired it. 



