BORSB SENSE. 133 



country and in Europe, where large numbers of horses are kept for 

 hard work, fed regularly by close observers, whose business it is to do 

 the best for the horses, their work and their owners. 



WATER THE WORK HORSES BEFORE FEEDING. 



When it is understood that the stomach of the horse can contain 

 only from three to three and one-half gallons, then it becomes apparent 

 that we must study the best methods of keeping him in health and 

 strength for the labor required of him, largely in the manner in which 

 we water and feed him. It is always best to water some time before 

 feeding. 



TOO MANY HORSES ARE OVER-FED. 



A great proportion of our horses are over-fed, many under-fed, and 

 but few out of the whole that are fed to the advantage of the horse and 

 owner. Horses are frequently fed as much as thirty or forty pounds 

 of hay in twenty-four hours, when twelve to twenty pounds is enough 

 for the majority of horses that are working hard; and as much as a 

 bushel, and sometimes more, of grain is given daily to each horse, when 

 one-half of the amount would be ample. 



THE FEEDING SHOULD ACCORD WITH CONDITIONS. 



One of the greatest and most frequent mistakes is in over-feeding 

 our horses, especially when idle or exhausted from hard work. It re- 

 quires vital energy to digest a heavy feed, as well as to perform hard 

 work, and when the horse is very tired it is bad practice to give him 

 a large feed until he is rested. 



WORKING HORSES SHOULD BE FED LESS WHEN IDLE. 



It is also a great mistake to feed our horses the same amount of 

 grain when idle for a few days (especially if in good flesh), after regular 

 work or exercise, as this is the very cause of that dread disease called 

 azaturia, which almost always attacks the best conditioned horse, and 

 if it does not kill him, it will deprive his owner of his use for a con- 

 siderable time. 



NINTY PER CENT OF ACUTE SICKNESS THE RESULT OF 

 OVER-FEEDING. 



It is of the utmost importance that we study carefully the best 

 methods of feeding our horses when at hard work, when idle, and 

 during the winter when they are but little used; thereby saving the 

 frequent calls of the veterinarian, drug bills and condition powders. It 

 is the almost universal statement of veterinarians, that ninety per cent 

 of the acute cases that they are called to treat is caused from over-feed- 

 ing. 



VALUE OF A BRAN MASH. 



If the horses cannot have green grass once or twice a week (na- 

 ture's great regulator), they should have a bran mash instead. But a s 

 hired help will often leave enough mash in the tub or manger to fer- 



