Stable Hints. 



horse be subject to colic, his drinking water should be boiled 

 first and given lukewarm. Soft is better than hard water, 

 because it is more free from impurities, and therefore more 

 quickly absorbed into the blood. One gallon at a time is suffici- 

 ent, three times a day, one hour before each meal, or a constant 

 supply of water may be left in the stall of a sensible horse. 

 Never give water shortly before, during, nor for two hours after a 

 meal, or flatulent cohc will probably ensue. A horse can with 

 impunity drink cold water in moderation, say half a gallon, 

 immediately after severe exercise whilst still heated, but not 

 w^hen he has commenced to cool down. Lukewarm water or 

 gi-uel is then best. 



DUNG and URINE, specially the latter, must never remain 

 inside the stable one minute longer than necessary. Ammonia 

 from urine causes disease of eyes very quickly. 



FOOD. Some peculiarities of the horse must be considered : 

 to allow plenty of room for the lungs the stomach is compara- 

 tively very small, and if overloaded through voracious eating 

 internal rupture and death may follow, as its conformation 

 prevents relief by vomiting. Hence the necessity for frequent 

 moderate feeds ; and when the daily quantity of grain is re- 

 quired to be increased, an extra meal should be arranged, in- 

 stead of increasing the usual quantity at each ordinary meal. 

 The horse has no gall-bladder, so digestion is continuous, and 

 there are 90 feet of entrail, which must not be empty, so bulk as 

 well as quality of food is required ; hence condensed articles, 

 such as forage, biscuits, however nutritious, will not suffice 

 without grass or hay. 



When buying a new horse the best plan, if he be in fair condi- 

 tion, is to continue whatever food he is accustomed to. But 

 this may not be ascertainable, and then lOlbs, of grain (5 of gram 

 and 5 of bran or boosa mixed) divided into three meals, with 7 

 to 10 seers of grass, or 5 seers of hay, is a fair average quantity 

 daily for a horse of fifteen hands in steady work. The grain can 

 be reduced or increased according to size and work. 



Gram, though rather heating, is the usual staple food : 3 to 

 5 seers daily mixed with bran, which in India has some nourish- 

 ment left in it. Give an occasional change of food, such as 

 barley, oats, or a bran-mash, on Saturday nights. Gram one 

 year old is best, and should be free of insects. If bran alone is 

 procurable, 6 seers daily is required. The crushed food sold in 

 Calcutta is excellent. Oats are good : barley disagrees with 

 some horses, though others thrive on it. A little Indian corn 

 may be mixed with other food, but if used alone, it, as also raw 

 wheat, will cause colic. Unhusked rice called dhan given raw 

 may be mixed with equal weight of gram or bran. Gram, oats. 



