90 THE ECONOMICS OF FEEDING HORSES 



four, five, or six meals daily, often cause owners to 

 adopt the less laborious systems. The larger the 

 stud and more varied the work, the more difficult 

 will it be to come into line with the natural require- 

 ments of the horse. The only general rule that can 

 be laid down is that the daily ration should be as 

 evenly distributed as possible throughout the day, with 

 due respect to work and rest, and that never less than 

 three meals should be given daily. A period of more 

 than six hours without food whilst at work should not 

 be allowed. If such is contemplated a nose-bag should 

 be taken on the journey, and a definite (although it 

 may be short) time set aside for the animal to eat its 

 meal. Many fatal cases of colic have a previous history 

 of long intervals between meals, and it is wise to reduce 

 these long fasts. 



It is difficult to understand the marked difference 

 in condition which may often be noticed when a stud of a 

 few cart-horses is compared with a large one where the 

 animals are fed upon the same diet. On careful inquiry it 

 will generally be found that the lower condition of the 

 horses of the large stud is due to three principal factors 

 — viz., irregular working and meal hours, trotting at 

 work, and loss of rest. It is quite easy to understand 

 how these conditions prevent the accumulation of a 

 good supply of muscular and adipose tissue. In a large 

 stable feeding operations begin at 4 a.m., and horses 

 are going out or returning up till 11.30 p.mc, leaving very 

 little time for real quiet rest. 



Besides the ordinary daily process of feeding, most 

 horse -owners adopt a modified and lessened ration 

 during week-ends and short holidays. This procedure is 



