104 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



Horse-power is most advantageously employed when the 

 pace is slow, and the hours of labour prolonged in proportion. 

 It has been remarked that draught horses can work long 

 hours, and draw very heavy loads, if they are not over-paced ; 

 but to demand from them quick movement, in order that a 

 day's work may be completed at an early hour, will, if con- 

 tinued from day to day, materially shorten their periods of 

 useful existence. In illustration of this, the following examples 

 are given. It is required, as the daily work of two pairs of 

 horses, equal in every particular, to transport twenty-four tons 

 of merchandise a distance of two miles from a given place ; one 

 pair is occupied only six hours in drawing three four-ton loads, 

 and returning with the empty dray ; the other pair, similarly 

 loaded, is two or three hours longer doing the same distance. 

 The effect of the two arrangements will become perceptible 

 in a few months ; for although the first pair will rest in the 

 stable at least two hours of the twenty-four more than the 

 second pair, the latter will exhibit less fatigue, maintain better 

 condition, and wear the longest. If the natural pace of a 

 draught horse is three miles an hour, he may, if not over- 

 loaded^ travel fourteen or sixteen miles in five to six hours ; 

 but to compel a horse whose natural pace is only two, or two 

 and a half miles an hour, to accomplish that distance in the 

 same time, will certainly injure him ; while if the same horse 

 work for ten hours on the same distance he will probably last 

 as long as, if not longer than, the faster-paced horse, and pro- 

 bably keep in as good condition, even on a smaller allowance 

 of food. When two horses work together, the pace of the 

 slowest should be taken as the standard of speed ; though it is 

 always better to have them as closely matched in this respect 

 as possible. It is the same when a large number of horses 

 are travelling together ; the rate of travel should be governed 

 by the pace of the slowest horses. Overwork is, like under- 

 feeding, false economy, and, if continued, shortens the horse's 



