260 THE HORSE 



ROOTS 



Carrots and Parsnips are the only roots which are readily eaten by the 

 horse, and no others seem to agree with him well. The effect of each is nearly 

 the same, proving slightly aperient and diuretic at first, and then serving to 

 cool the system. After a short time they fatten him, and may be continued 

 for months together without inconvenience. It is supposed that two pounds 

 of carrots are about equal in nourishment to one pound of oats, but they do 

 not possess the same amount of muscle-making material, and are therefore 

 only suited to slow work. Parsnips ave not often given in this country, but 

 in France they are a very common kind of horse-food. By a little starva- 

 tion the horse may be made to eat mangold-wurzel or turnips, but they are 

 not good for him. Whenever, therefore, a change is desired during the 

 winter, carrots alone supply the want, and they can only be given Avith 

 advantage to those horses which are not doing hard work. They are made 

 up chiefly of starch and sugar, and afford little gluten and albumen as 

 compared with oats. 



Horses in stables are kept in an artificial condition, and though they will 

 generally thrive on the ordinary food of oats and hay for a long time, yet 

 occasional variety and change of food is very desirable. There is also a 

 very great difference in the constitution of these animals : one wdll go on 

 steadily woi^king with little or no variety of food, while another will get out 

 of condition, and need a change to something more resembling the circum- 

 stances which surrounded his ancestors before they were subjected to the 

 service of man. A sensible horse-keeper will remember this, and study his 

 horses' idiosyncrasies, and if he requires them to do constant and heavy 

 work, he Avill observe the beginning of failure to do as much as they have 

 been accustomed to, and wdll give them a rest. In ordinary cases the rest 

 of one day in seven is sufiicient for horses as for men, but when that is en- 

 croached upon, it is sooner or later necessary to give them a long rest and 

 complete change of food by turning them out to grass. 



GREEN FOOD SUITABLE FOR SOILING 

 HORSES 



The object in giving green food to horses in the stable is genei'ally to 

 afford them a temporary change from their unvarying rations of hay and 

 corn without losing their condition entirely, as they do when turned out. 

 All the articles which are used for this purpose, and which I have 

 enumerated below, slightly purge the horse when first given; and act 

 beneficially in that way for some two or three weeks. After this, how- 

 ever, they fatten him rapidly, and then, instead of doing the legs good, 

 as is generally the intention, they make them more stale by increasing the 

 weight of the carcass, as soon as the horse is put to work. 



Clover is greedily devoured by all horses, and fattens them quickly, but 

 it is not suited to those cases where a cooling diet is wanted to relieve 

 inflamed joints. 



Tares or Vetches when young are very relaxing, and they also act 



