suited to the needs of the horse. This may possibly be explained 

 on the ground that it is likely to be free from noxious plants and 

 also that it best serves as a diluter or distributer for the more concen- 

 trated feeds. Experiments have demonstrated that alfalfa, clover 

 hay, corn stover, Kafir corn stover, straw and small quantities of 

 corn silage may also be fed with satisfaction. It has been claimed 

 that alfalfa and clover hays produce colic in horses. This condition 

 can be avoided if only one-half of the hay ration consists of these 

 feeds. In fact, the Utah station has used alfalfa hay as the only 

 coarse fodder (20 pounds daily) with excellent results. Investiga- 

 tions with millet hay, as an exclusive coarse fodder, for horses, tend 

 to furnish evidence that it is the cause of an increased action of the 

 kidneys as well as lameness and swelling of the joints. There are 

 but few experiments on record relative to the value of roots and 

 tubers as a food for horses and their use is not general in this 

 country. A small daily feed of carrots is esteemed by many, and a 

 recent German writer suggested the use of 12 pounds of cut pota- 

 toes daily, per thousand pounds of live weight, with the proviso that 

 horses should not be watered immediately after receiving the potatoes. 

 There is no particular advantage in cutting hay for 

 Preparation of horses. When horses are worked hard, when the 



Feeds. hay is very dusty, or when it appears necessary to 



Watering. dilute or lighten the grain ration, it may be wise to 

 cut and moisten the hay and mix in the grain. 



Generally speaking not anything is gained by cooking or soaking 

 ordinary feed stuffs. Experiments have made clear that it is not 

 necessary to grind grain for healthy horses having good teeth. 

 When animals are worked hard and have only a short time in the 

 middle of the day to feed, ground grain will doubtless prove 

 advantageous. 



The amount of water consumed by the horse daily will naturally 

 depend upon the temperature of the atmosphere, the amount and 

 kind of work performed, and the character of the food consumed. 

 The extremes may be placed at 30 and 100 pounds ; with 60 to 70 

 pounds as an average for farm horses of 1200 to 1300 pounds live 

 weight. 



Many opinions have been expressed and a number of experiments 

 are on record relative to the proper time of watering. The consen- 

 sus of opinion seems to be that it really makes no particular differ- 



