34 THE HORSE. 



the horses were under the management of persons 

 skilled in the nature and training of this valuable 

 animal, and being baited at proper intervals, were 

 not over-done, while their appetites remained good. 

 It may be taken as a general fact, that where gruel 

 is required on the road, the horse has been cruelly 

 abused through ignorance or carelessness, or pure 

 wilfulness ; and that the man who gives such messes 

 unrequired is quite a novice in the treatment of 

 horses ; as it destroys the natural tone of their 

 stomachs (by weakening the digestive powers,) 

 causes them to lose their appetites on the least exer- 

 tion, and making them incumbrances to themselves 

 as well as burthens to their masters. 



Boiled oats given to horses is only another mode 

 of gruelling, and, therefore, comes under the same 

 strictures. Those who require more evidence on 

 this subject, may ask themselves whether exercise 

 does not assist digestion, and whether men who 

 labour hardest do not need that food which is hardest 

 of digestion for their sustenance. It is upon this 

 principle that prudent masters of horses give them 

 beans upon extra work and extraordinary occasions. 

 No one can deny that gruel and boiled oats are both 

 easier of digestion than raw corn, and, therefore, are 

 only suitable for weakened and disordered stomachs. 

 Then why give messes when the appetite is good, 

 and capable of digesting the best food ] The race- 

 horse never has gruel but in case of sickness. To 

 bring him in proper condition to the post, the most 

 solid food is necessary. Beans, and with these and 

 oats he is liberally supplied. 



WATER. 



More error prevails respecting the quantity of 

 water, and the proper times of giving it to horses, 

 than perhaps on any other part of oir subject. 



