TOOD-l 



THE HOESE, AND 



[MANGEB-rEEDTNG. 



serviceable, as it will oblige them to chew or 

 masticate their oats with the chafF before they 

 can swallow it. But though chaff is filling, it 

 must BE sjparmghj given, as it fills them up, 

 and inclines them to drink much, when they 

 will appear plump and fair, hut not he in con- 

 dition for %corlc. It is most proper for slow 

 draught horses. 



The quantity of hay necessary for a saddle- 

 horse, is from eight to sixteen pounds 'per day, 

 according to size, constitution, and his work. 

 About twelve pounds will be found generally 

 sufficient ; but large carriage horses require 

 from sixteen to twenty pounds. If horses get 

 lank and hollow in the flank and quarters, 

 their allowance should be increased ; but, on 

 the contrary, and for the sake of having them 

 flit and plump, they must not be supplied with 

 too much hay and water. An animal when 

 fat, is less fit for work than when lean, pro- 

 vided his leanness is not occasioned by starva- 

 tion, for he may be rendered poor by his work 

 exceeding his keep. If a horse is stinted to 

 an allowance that keeps him in tolerable con- 

 dition with only a little walking exercise, and 

 then put to work without an increase of food, 

 he will, of course, become thin ; but if not 

 given so much work as to exhaust his strength, 

 as well as his flesh, he will be nothing the 

 worse for it. Increase his food, and he will 

 be better for w'ork than before. 



Oats of quality are the most nutritious food 

 for saddle-horses, when given in proper quan- 

 tities ; say three-quarters per day, provided his 

 ■R'ork is no more than exercise ; but if the 

 horse is kept to constant hard work, he is in 

 no danger of being over-fed if he has as much 

 as he can eat. The qualities of oats will be 

 discussed further on. 



Beans are excellent and stimulating for hard- 

 worked animals; but of their properties we 

 shall speak under their own specific headings. 

 Here, however, we may observe that the small 

 and plump bean is usually the best, by all means, 

 for such horses as are either lightly worked or 

 required to go at speed, as they need more 

 water to digest them, and swell in the stomach. 

 They may, however, be allowed to animals 

 that travel at a moderate rate, or such as are 

 employed in draught work. They are also 

 good for coach or omnibus horses if given in 

 small quantities. 

 130 



Water is usually given twice a day ; some, 

 however, give it three times ; but this plan of 

 watering does not do so well for travelling as 

 for draught horses. Soft water is esteemed 

 preferable to hard spring water ; hence rivers 

 and running streams, or such springs as supply 

 ponds, where the water gets impregnated and 

 softened by a loomy or chalky soil, is better 

 than hard spring pump water. The quantity 

 in this, as in food, must also be regulated by 

 circumstances, size of horse, constitution, &c. 

 Some animals will not drink immoderately, and 

 may safely be left to their discretion ; wiiile 

 others, if permitted, will swill, and render 

 themselves incapable of work, by causing im- 

 moderate perspiration and distress of wind. 

 "When the work is done for the day, a reason- 

 able quantity may be allowed. Half a stable- 

 pailful of water is generally sufficient for the 

 morning. 



MANGER-FEEDING. 



The system of manger- feeding which has now, 

 for some years, been adopted on the road, arose 

 no doubt from a desire in the proprietors of 

 horses to till the stomachs of their animals in 

 the shortest possible space of time, in order 

 that they might get more rest on the road; 

 and among farmers it is becoming more general. 

 It is certainly well adapted for horses not over- 

 worked through speed ; whilst it is an econo- 

 mical way of feeding, as by mixing a portion 

 of chafi" with the corn and beans, the animal is 

 compelled to chew his food. He cannot bolt 

 the straw or hay ; and while forced to grind the 

 chafi", he also grinds the oats and beans. By 

 the adoption of this plan more nourishment is 

 yielded, and the stomach is more slowly filled. 

 Independently of this, the increased quantity of 

 saliva thrown out in the lengthened grinding 

 operation softens the food, and renders it better 

 fitted for digestion. 



Chaff may be composed of equal quantities 

 of clover or meadow hay, and wheaten, oaten, 

 or barley straw, cut into pieces of a quarter or 

 half an inch in length, and mixed well to- 

 gether ; the quantity of oats or beans is after- 

 wards added, and mixed with it. The beans> 

 and oats should be bruised, because the whole 

 oat is apt to slip out of the chaff and be lost ; 

 but when it is bruised, and especially if the 

 chaff is a little wetted, this will be less likely 



