20 FEEDING. 



FEEDING. 



The cavalry allowances are 12 lb. hay, 10 lb. oats, 

 and 8 lb. straw daily, which, I know by experience, will 

 keep a healthy animal in condition with the work re- 

 quired from a dragoon horse, of the severity of which 

 none but those acquainted with that branch of the ser- 

 vice have any idea. 



Until he is perfectly fit for the ranks, between riding- 

 school, field-days, and drill, the troop-horse has quite 

 work enough for any beast. I may add that few horses 

 belonging to officers of cavalry get more than the above 

 allowance, unless when regularly hunted, in which case 

 additional corn and beans are given. 



With severe work, 14 lb. to 16 lb. of oats, and 12 

 lb. of hay, which is the general allowance in well-re- 

 gulated hunting-stables, ought to be sufficient. Beans 

 are also given in small quantity. 



Some persons feed their horses three times a-day, 

 but it is better to divide their food into four daily 

 portions, watering them at least half an hour before 

 each feed. 



The habit which some grooms have of feeding while 

 they are teazing an animal with the preliminaries of 

 cleaning, is very senseless, as the uneasiness horses are 

 sure to exhibit under anything like grooming causes 

 them to knock about their heads and scatter their food. 

 On a journey, according to the call upon the system by 

 the increased amount of work, so should the horse's 

 feeding be augmented by one-third, one-fourth, or one- 

 half more than usual. A few beans or pease may well 

 be added under such circumstances. 



