90 THE PEACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



with the breathing organs, and is more rapidly consumed ; but 

 a certain amount of bulk the horse must have at some time or 

 other, and the best time for giving this is at night. 



FREQUENCY OF FEEDING. 



Next in importance to the quantity of food is the frequency 

 with which it should be given. It should always be remem- 

 bered that the peculiar anatomical structure of the digestive 

 organs in the horse, as well as the nature of the digestive 

 process in that animal, necessitate food being given at regular 

 and frequent periods. Nothing conduces to health and 

 efficiency more than the observance of the rule by which food 

 is allowed at periods suited to the requirements of the diges- 

 tive functions. Perhaps no animal suffers more from long fasts 

 than the horse ; and disease or disorder of the digestive organs 

 is a common occurrence in stables where long fasts are suc- 

 ceeded by heavy feeding, as digestion is impaired by the food 

 being devoured greedily, and in larger quantity than the 

 stomach can properly accommodate. Horses should be fed at 

 least three times a day ; better if it could be four times. The 

 hour at which the morning feed should be given will depend 

 more or less upon the time for turning out for work ; there 

 ought to be ample leisure for consuming the meal before that 

 occurs. At any rate, the first feed should not be later than six 

 or seven in the morning ; the next towards mid-day ; and if 

 only fed three times a day, the third in the evening. If pos- 

 sible, no longer interval than four hours should elapse between 

 the meals ; and while those given during the day should be 

 moderate in quantity, that allowed at night ought to be the 

 largest, as the horse then has ample time for mastication and 

 rest. During the day a little food, however small the quantity, 

 is better than none ; and for heavy horses, and even for light 

 ones when it can be carried, a nose-bag containing a feed is a 



