402 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



prohibited at another; or it may be that the horse, from 

 the efiects of disease, can hardly be induced to eat any thing 

 at all. Therp is a similar difference in regard to tl\e chang- 

 ing seasons of the year. The farmer who pursues exactly 

 the same system of feeding and treatment in the summer 

 that he did in the winter, will find his team becoming fat at 

 one time and thin at another — lively at one time and stupid 

 at another; now in fine condition, and then in bad plight 

 and poor health. 



A difference likewise exists between spring and fall, espe- 

 cially the close of the latter, toward winter — ^between the 

 shedding of the hair, which takes place in the former, and 

 its increased warmth and thickness in the latter. The case 

 is the same when We contrast the circumstances of work and 

 rest, or of hard labor and mild exercise. A horse regularly 

 and severely tasked needs more and stronger food than one 

 which stands most of the time in the stable, being exercised 

 but seldom, and then quite moderately. The food needful 

 for the one will kill the other, or, at least, occasion serious 

 disease. Many of the serious ailments of the horse arise 

 from an unreasonable adherence to one certain system of 

 keeping. Upon the farm, the animal works hard through 

 the spring season, and until after harvest ; then a time of 

 rest comes on, when he has but little or nothing to do ; and 

 still the ignorant owner gives the same full, strong diet as 

 ever. If such a horse does not fall off in flesh, his appear- 

 rance of fattening is pretty sure to be attended by the influ- 

 ence of some dire disease that is being generated in his 

 system. 



Then the horse in low condition requires a different keep- 

 ing from the one in fine plight and spirits ; and so does the 

 colt from the old or mature horse. Seasons vary; age, con- 

 dition, health, and labor vary; and a rational and generous 

 management must vary its details, also, in a corresponding 

 degree. The rudiments of a proper, systematic knowledge 

 of the business of the farmer and breeder consist in a thor- 

 ^ ough acquaintance with the varying wants of the horse under 



