CHAPTER V. 



FOOD THE FITTEST TIME FOR FEEDING, AND THE KIND OP FOOD WHICH 



THE HORSE NATURALLY CONSUMES. 



The folly of perversity or the madness of abuse can imagine no pos- 

 sible wrong that the human race have not inflicted upon the creature to 

 which civilization owes its heaviest obligations. The horse, which more 

 than shares in mortal toil, is forced to work before its bones are matured. 

 When strained and deformed by the severity of labor, it is sworn at and 

 lashed because its body shares, with all things on this earth, the perish- 

 ableness which is inseparable from mortal existence. It is created to 

 enjoy the freest breezes of the plain ; but, by the superior power which 

 has domesticated, the type of activity is doomed to stand, throughout 

 life, within the narrow confines of a stall. It is the emblem of timidity ; 

 yet it is driven into every species of peril. Nature endowed it with 

 fleetness, and formed it to delight in action ; but mankind expect it to 

 exhibit health during years of inactivity, and think its limbs should not 

 become stiff from incessant lack of motion. 



Its food grows abundantly on the surface of earth; every fresh 

 mouthful necessitates an additional step; for the animal, when free, 

 walks as it eats, and lowers the head, to collect its sustenance from the 

 ground. Mankind imprisons the poor life ; the hay is placed level with 

 the ears, and the corn is given even with the chest of the animal. Nay, 

 the very groom, when he permits water to be imbibed, raises the pail, 

 resting its edge upon his knee. Nature enabled the horse to feed by 

 night, — when the air is cool ; when all is quiet ; when the grass is moist, 

 and when the flies are not abroad : then the emblem of concord pastures 

 in peacefulness. The stabled horse is allowed to eat only by day. 

 Though intended to be watchful, horse masters insist the wakeful quad- 

 ruped should accept twelve hours of repose ; and they lock the stable 

 door, that its imaginary slumbers may be undisturbed. 



The sufferer wears clothes only while under shelter. During summer 



it always retains its coat ; but, as frost and snow approach, the covering 



which nature sent to conserve the body's warmth human wisdom either 



clips or singes, away, dooming the native of a sunny chme to sbivep in 



(168) 



