Feeding and Watering 355 



the fall, when the grass is rather short and flies 

 troublesome. In the summer, shade of some kind 

 should be provided in the absence of trees. 



The ration for the trotting colt in training will vary 

 somewhat from that fed other colts. Perhaps noth- 

 ing excels oats as the principal grain ration, though 

 they should be supplemented from time to time with 

 bran and barley, if convenient. A good night ration 

 is made from three parts ground oats, one part of bar- 

 ley and a handful of bran, mixed and steamed, and 

 fed as a mash. For the colt in training most horse- 

 men prefer old, sweet, clean timothy hay, as new 

 timothy, clover and alfalfa have a loosening effect 

 upon the bowels of the hard-working colt. Give 

 the colt all he will clean up, then keep him in good 

 physical condition by exercising him regularly. 



The colt should be fed, watered and exercised 

 regularly and uniformly at all times. He becomes 

 accustomed to a certain order, which should be fol- 

 lowed. To change the order for even a single meal 

 oftentimes produces digestive disturbance. There 

 is much difference of opinion as to the order of supply- 

 ing food and water, as well as to the number of times 

 the colt should be watered each day. Because of 

 the small size of the horse's stomach, it must fill and 

 empty itself two or three times for each meal. Dur- 

 ing the fore part of the meal the material is pushed 

 into the intestines almost as soon as it enters the 

 stomach by the food that follows, while toward the 



