V 



HORSES. 91 



merely bent the points down to the hoof, without twist- 

 ing them off, as the usual practice is. He then drove 

 the nails home, and clenched them. He then twisted 

 off the nails, and filed them lightly, to smooth them ; 

 thus having, as he remarked, a clench and rivet to hold 

 the nail. [See Diseases of the Feet.] 



TO SAVE HORSES FROM FIRE. 



Horses are frequently burnt to death, when bams or 

 stables are on fire, owing to the impossibility of leading 

 or driving them out of the building, while their eyes are 

 dazzled by the light. But we are assured that by sim- 

 ply covering their eyes with a bag, blanket, coat, or 

 pocket handkerchief, they may be led out of danger 

 without trouble or difficulty. It is said that by throwing 

 a saddle, or anything else, on the back of a horse, in such 

 ca^es, he may be led out. 



FOOD, AND ITS PREPARATION. 



GREEN HERBAGE. 



Green herbage, in great variety, is the natural food 

 of the horse. This is the most wholesome : for on this he 

 is less liable to disease than when under an artificial 

 course of feeding. This food is rather laxative, so that 

 it keeps the bowels in good condition ; it contains suffi. 

 cient nutriment, and is not liable to produce plethora 

 nor does it have the heating and constipating effects of 

 grain and other concentrated food. 



Grasses are the principal food of horses ; yet they eat 

 of almost every kind '>f herbage. In this way, they are 

 supplied with a great variety of food, affording all the 

 necessary elements of nutrition. The principal grasses 

 cultivated in this country, are herds-grass, red-top, and 

 red and white clover : all of which are excellent. There 

 are other grasses cultivated to less extent, and many 

 kinds grow spontaneously. A few grasses salivate the 

 horse. [See Salivation.] 



Indian Corn. Green cornstalks are a good food for 



