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CHAPTER XXI. 



FEEDING. 



As already stated, I give my own Ideas and opinions on 

 this subject, without any desire to thrust them forward, or 

 the least expectation of seeing them generally adopted. 

 Old prejudices are hard to get rid of; grooms are self- 

 willed, obstinate, and ignorant to a degree, and masters are 

 too yielding, or too indolent to interfere. I therefore 

 regard it as probable that on many persons the advice 

 contained in this chapter will be thrown aw^ay, while on 

 others — those who are willing to break new ground — it 

 will, I venture to say, have the salutary effect of producing 

 improvements in the stable, and increasing the weight of 

 the purse. By good management, which is the true secret 

 of all economy, a man, or woman, may keep a pair of horses 

 for the same yearly outlay that his or her less provident 

 neighbour will expend on keeping one — while the credit of 

 the stable will be quite as well, if not better, maintained. 



I am most strongly in favour of cooked food, and 

 opposed to the giving of raw oats in any shape or form. 

 The absurd theory that this system of feeding is calculated 

 to make horses " soft," is about as sensible as that which 

 avers (or would do so) that a man fed upon cooked rice and 



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