INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 3 



entirely dependent on man for his food, exercise, &c. Par- 

 ticularly will lie require care and watching at the seasons 

 of the fall and spring of the year — seasons of vicissitude and 

 prevalence of influenza. 



Although it will be my aim, it may and will, in the 

 majority of cases, prove impossible, to preserve the young 

 animal against certain grievances his nature, under domesti- 

 cation, becomes liable to at certain ages and seasons ; yet, 

 by judicious management, we may succeed, if not in warding 

 off disease, in rendering its attack comparatively mild and 

 harmless. Disease in one form or another he will, I almost 

 believe 7nust, of necessity, have at this period of his life : 

 our object, therefore, should be to conditionate him for the 

 reception of a seizure of the kind, come when it may, so 

 as to render the attack as light as it can be expected to 

 be. For after all is ivell over, not only is the animal no 

 worse (unless it should happen to prove severe, and leave 

 some unfavorable organic changes behind it), but is often 

 the better for it ; since it is well known that, not un- 

 frequently, a horse does not thrive or "do welP^ until 

 he has experienced the so called " distemper.'' 



Three and four-year-old horses, when brought into stables 

 for the first time, are better kept without corn altogether 

 for the first week or so, and particularly at the seasons of 

 spring and fall. Any soft meat may be allowed them with 

 their hay, such as cold bran-mash, or any other mash, or 

 carrots or turnips or mangel-wurzel ; but corn, and especi- 

 ally beans, at this period are of too stimulating a nature 

 for their feed. In the season when it is to be had, nothing 

 is better for them than green-meat : vetches or lucern is 

 excellent feed, and may be given in lieu of hay and mash 

 too, being of itself all that is now required. Our usual 

 practice, when green-meat is not to be obtained, is to give 

 two or three cold bran-mashes a day, with a moderate 

 allowance of hay. In a fortnight's time, a couple of small 

 feeds of corn may be given, conjoined with chaff", one or 

 two mashes making up the three or four feeds a day.^ Thus 



' Cavalry horses are, by regulation, allowed four feeds a day. 



