CHAPTER XXVIII. 



FEEDING HORSES. 



The amount of food given should be regulated by the size and breed 

 of ihe animal, and by the amount and kind of work he is required to do. 

 The horse has a small stomach in proportion to his size; hence, frequent 

 feeding when under hard work is necessary. 



THE HORSE SUFFERS MORE FROM HUNGER THAN MAN. 



The human stomach can bear hunger far better than that of the 

 horse. If when driving on a journey you feel hungry, you may be sure 

 your horse has felt it before you did, and is needing his feed more than 

 you. 



Oats and hay are the ideal horse foods of our country, but because 

 they are the best is no reason why they should be exclusively used. 



VARIETY OF FEEDS IS AS MUCH RELISHED BY THE 

 HORSE AS BY MAN. 



Variety is often much relished by the horse, and, with this variety, 

 cheapness and economy may be introduced. Good timothy hay, early cut 

 and well cured, is the best hay for horses. Timothy hay is heavier than 

 that of other grasses, and contains a larger quantity of nutritive matter 

 in a small bulk. If left till it be over-ripe, it becomes hard and woody. 

 It is more digestible when cut rather on the green side, and makes better 

 horse feed. 



FARMERS, AS A RULE, FEED TOO MUCH HAY. 



Many farmers feed far too nnicli hay to their horses. They might 

 very well take a few lessons in this matter from the livery men, who 

 find that their horses do better and keep healthier on a small allowance 

 of hay. 



AMOUNT OF HAY FED TO RACE HORSES. 



Rase horses and others, in large stables, are fed on six to eight 

 pounds of hay and from fifteen to twenty pounds of the best oats per 

 day, and, if needed, a bran mash once a week, — one-third of the hay after 

 exercise in the morning, the balance at night, and the oats fed at four 

 feeds. For the work horse, more hay is given, up to ten pounds per day 

 (six pounds loose and four pounds cut), and mixed with his oats, 

 sixteen to eighteen pounds. Any farmer can see how much this differs 

 from his feeding, and yet these horses are required to do hard work and 

 '-nake sudden exertions, taxing all their powers. 



