284 THE HOUSE 



for their horses in the wrong way or at the wrong 

 time, or both. The very breath of such an attendant 

 seems to be poison to the horse. Horses should be 

 used but moderately for a short time after they have 

 partaken of a full meal. Horses kept in cold stables 

 should receive wider rations than those kept in warm 

 stables. "The skill of the groom is half the ration." 

 For a more extended discussion of this subject see 

 "Feeds and Feeding," by Director William Arnon 

 Henry, Madison, Wis. 



HARNESS 



Care should be taken to fit and adjust the harness 

 to the horse. This is particularly true of the young 

 horse when he is first put at work. His shoulders 

 and mouth, the places likely to first show abrasion, 

 are tender. Then, too, if he be somewhat fleshy when 

 put to severe work, the collar, which was none too 

 large at first, becomes too large for the neck after a 

 few weeks. 



In this chapter, the care, management, etc., of 

 moderate -sized horses put to light work is treated; 

 in Chapter XTX, the driving and care of draft- and 

 plow -horses will receive attention. 



After the collar, the bridle is of next importance. 

 First, the length of the headstall should be so 

 adjusted as to bring the bit in mild contact with the 

 bars of the mouth, so that there may be quick 

 response to the slightest pressure of the driving reins. 

 If the headstall of the bridle is too short, the bars 



