PREPARATION Otf FOOD. 83 



danger. It is usually found most economical and safe to have 

 the green forage chopped, and mixed with the hay, chaff, and 

 corn, especially for town horses. 



PREPARATION OF FOOD. 



Stabled horses, and especially those doing hard work, gene- 

 rally require to have their food more or less prepared, and this 

 preparation is a matter of some importance with regard to 

 economy and efficient feeding. No matter how perfectly mas- 

 tication and digestion may succeed in extracting nourishment 

 from unbroken and unprepared grain, the abridgment of labour 

 and duration in these processes must be a saving to the animal ; 

 but when mastication or digestion is impaired as in old 

 horses when their teeth become defective, in horses over- 

 fatigued by severe labour or privation, or in those which are 

 ill or recovering from sickness such preparation must be 

 doubly beneficial. Grain should be crushed at least sufficiently 

 to break the husk ; and beans, peas, and maize should not be 

 broken into flour, but cracked or split. 



Cutting hay, and also straw, when it is part of the rations, 

 into chop, is now pretty generally adopted, especially in large 

 studs of horses, as it prevents waste ; and if the chop is mixed 

 with the grain, it ensures complete mastication of both. It is 

 recognised that for horses doing long and slow work, with but 

 a limited time for rest, this preparation of the food is emi- 

 nently beneficial. The easier and more thorough mastication 

 is a guarantee that the food is well mixed with saliva in the 

 mouth, and this renders digestion in the stomach more rapid 

 and perfect. 



"With a mixture of chop and different kinds of grain, it is 



very necessary that the whole should be thoroughly mixed. If 



a number of horses are to be fed with it, in order that each 



may receive its due quantity of each ingredient, to facilitate 



G 2 



