92 THE HOR9K 



p unity, and very often the horse lefuses them alto 

 gether. Damp, musty, ill-kept beans, though old, 

 are as flatulent as those which are new. All kinds 

 are constipating. 



PEAS 



Are.seldom used without beans, with which they are 

 mixed in large or small quantities. They may be 

 given without either beans or other grain, but much 

 care is necessary to inure the horse to them. Peas 

 seem to be very indigestible, more so than beans, 

 and perhaps as much so as wheat ; but when given, 

 very sparingly at first, they may be used with perfect 

 safety. It is often said that peas swell so much in 

 the stomach as to burst it. This is an error. Peas 

 do absorb much water, and swell more perhaps than 

 beans, but they never swell so much as to burst the 

 stomach, for the horse cannot or will not eat such a 

 large quantity. When the stomach is bui-st, it is from 

 fermentation, not from swelling of the peas. All kinds 

 of food will produce the same result when the horse is 

 permitted to gorge himself, or when he is fed in full 

 measure upon food that he has not been accustomed 

 to ; but peas seem to be rather more apt to ferment 

 than some other kinds of grain. 



LINSEED, 



In small quantities, either whole or ground, raw or 

 boiled, is sometimes given to sick horses. It is too 

 nutritious for a fevered horse, but is very useful foi 

 a cough, and it makes the skin loose and the coat 

 glossy. Half a pint may be mixed with the usual 

 feed every night. For a cough it should be boiled, 

 and given in a bran mash, to which two or three 

 ounces of coarse sugar may be added. 



