4 The Care of Animals 



that are fat are susceptible to disease, do not breed 

 readily, do not endure well in parturition, nor per- 

 form ordinary labor easily. It is a somewhat common 

 practice, when severe exertion is required of a horse, 

 either at draft or on the road, to give him an extra 

 heavy feed. Such practice is injurious to the animal, 

 as he cannot do his best work when the digestive 

 system is overloaded with food and thus taxed to its 

 utmost capacity. Animals of which hard work is ex- 

 pected should be fed sparingly. Of course, horses 

 or other animals that are continuously at hard labor 

 should be given food enough to keep them in good 

 physical condition. 



When warm, and especially when tired, an animal 

 should be allowed to rest before receiving its usual 

 food. The overtaxing of organs already tired tends 

 to bring on diseases of the digestive system. It is 

 usually a good plan to water the animal sparingly at 

 first and give a light feed of hay ; then, when it is 

 cool and rested, to give what water is desired and 

 the customary feed of grain. Rubbing an animal 

 with a brush, cloth, or wisp of straw is an excellent 

 method of resting and soothing it when it is tired 

 and nervous. 



When animals are fed out of doors or in pens it 

 is best to have them divided into small groups, or to 

 have individual places for feeding each animal. The 

 food should be so distributed that each animal has 

 opportunity to get its fair share. When this is not 

 done the strong and aggressive animals are likely 

 to keep the weaker ones from getting their share of 



