DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 37 



In the horse digestion takes place principally in the intestines, and 

 here, as in all other animals and with all foods, it is found that a 

 certain part only of the provender is digested; another portion is 

 undigested. This proportion of digested and undigested food must 

 claim passing notice at least, for if the horse receives too much food, 

 or bulky food containing much indigestible waste, a large portion of 

 food must pass out unused, entailing not only the loss of this unused 

 food, but also calling for an unnecessary expenditure of vital force 

 on the part of the digestive organs of the horse. It is thus that, in 

 fact, too much food ma}- make an animal poor. 



In selecting food for the horse we should remember the anatomical 

 arrangement of the digestive organs, as well as the physiological func- 

 tions performed by each one of them. Foods must be wholesome, 

 clean, and sweet, the hours of feeding regular, the mode of prepara- 

 tion found by practical experience to be the best must be adhered to, 

 and cleanliness in preparation and administration must be observed. 



The length of time occupied by stomach digestion in the horse varies 

 with the different foods. Hay and straT>^ pass out of the stomach more 

 rapidh^ than oats. It would seem to follow, then, that oats should be 

 given after ha}-, for if reversed the ha}^ would cause the oats to be sent 

 onward into the intestines before being fully acted upon by the stomach, 

 and as a result produce indigestion. Experience confirms this. There 

 is another good reason why hay should be given first, particularly if 

 the horse is very hungry or if exhausted from overwork, namely, it 

 requires more time in mastication (insuring proper admixture of 

 saliva) and can not be bolted, as are the grains. In either instance 

 water must not be given soon after feeding, as it washes or sluices the 

 food from the stomach before it is fitted for intestinal digestion. 



The stomach begins to empty itself ver_y soon after the commence- 

 ment of feeding, and continues rapidly while eating. Afterwards the 

 passage is slower, and several hours are required before the stomach is 

 entirely empty. The nature of the work required of the horse must 

 guide us in the selection of his food. Rapid or severe labor can not 

 be performed on a full stomach. For such labor food must be given 

 in small quantity and about two hours before they go to work. Even 

 horses intended for slow work must never be engorged with bulky, 

 innutritions food immediately before going to labor. The small stom- 

 ach of the horse would seem to lead us to the conclusion that this ani- 

 mal should be fed in small quantities and often, which, in reality, 

 should be done. The dispropoi'tion between the size of the stomach 

 and the amount of water drank tells us plainly that the horse should 

 always be watered before feeding. One of the common errors of 

 feeding, and the one that produces more digestive disorders than any 

 other, is to feed too soon after a hard dai/s ivorl'. This must never be 

 done. If a horse is completeh^ jaded, it will be found beneficial to 



