24 FEEDING. 



a horse's food will effectually prevent this dainty 

 creature from touching it. It used to be a common 

 practice at hostelries in the olden time, to rub the 

 teeth of a traveller's horse with a tallow candle or a 

 little oil ; thus causing the poor beast to leave his food 

 untouched for the benefit of his unfeeling attendant. 



Again, the oats or hay may be found, on close exa- 

 mination, to be musty, which causes them to be rejected 

 by the beast. 



Yv here no palpable cause for loss of appetite can be 

 discovered, reference should be made to a qualified 

 veterinary surgeon, who will examine the animal's 

 mouth, teeth, and general state of health, and probably 

 report that the lining of the cheeks is highly inflamed 

 in some part, owing to undue angularity or decay of 

 the teeth, and he will know how to act accordingly. 



When horses are on a journey, or a long ride home 

 after hunting, some people recommend the use of 

 gruel ; but, from experience, I prefer giving a handful 

 of wetted hay in half a bucket of tepid water, or ale or 

 porter. — See page 37. 



Feeding on Board Ship should be confined to chaff 

 and bran, mixed with about one-fourth the usual quan- 

 tity of bruised oats. 



Though horses generally look well when " full of 

 flesh," there are many reasons why they should not be 

 allowed to become fat after the fashion of a farmer's 

 " stall-feds." Some really good grooms think this form 

 of condition the pink of perfection. They are mistaken. 

 An animal in such a state is quite unfit to travel at any 

 fast pace or bear continued exertion without injury, 

 and may therefore be considered so far useless. 



He is also much more liable to contract disease, and 



