GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF HORSES 31 



nor kiln dried, although it is hardly hkely that the in- 

 experienced would detect signs of either of these features. 

 The same remarks are applicable to barley. Oats and 

 barley ma}^ be given either whole or crushed. For old 

 horses they should always be given crushed, likewise 

 both cereals can be fed to horses either dry or moistened. 

 Some horses like them one way, some another. It is a 

 matter of indifference which way they are given. From 

 5 to 18 lb. of oats per day is the right amount for each 

 horse. Both oats and barley should be stored in a dry 

 place, otherwise they are liable to become musty or get 

 over-heated and begin to sprout, in which state they are 

 extremely bad for horses. 



A cereal which is used in a good many stables is maize, 

 given in its bruised state. It is properly known as Indian 

 corn, and it has ingredients in it of a very fattening 

 nature ; therefore, if a horse is poor, maize of first-class 

 quality should constitute a component part of the stable 

 menu. As a staple fodder it is vastly inferior to either 

 oats or barley, though we have known some horse owners 

 who have used nothing else but this and hay, and who 

 were apparently quite satisfied with its feeding value. 

 Instead of being flesh-forming it is fat-forming, more 

 especially internally, and fat is no use for work. It helps 

 to keep the body warm, but this can be more satisfactorily 

 attained by work. From 2 to 4 lb. maize per horse daily 

 is quite sufficient for all purposes, provided that it is given 

 along with other food. If employed alone, from 5 to 14 lb. 

 of maize would be required daily. 



Beans, peas, and lentils are given either bruised or split 

 up along with oats, bran, and chaff. They are aU excellent 

 for bringing horses into good, hard condition, and used 

 in this manner from 2 to 4 lb. per day will be sufficient. 

 They are very rich in nitrogeneous matter, and their heat- 

 giving quahties are considerable. They are specially 

 valuable during the winter. The author strongly recom- 

 mends all horse owners to add a proportion of beans to 



