97 



GREEN FOOD. 



Among hard- working horses, I have found the 

 use of green food too indiscriminately adopted, 

 and it frequently proves as injurious as a mass of 

 cooked food. 



That it is useful and beneficial I fully be- 

 lieve, but this occurs under proper management. 

 When given, it should by no means take the place 

 of corn. This is, however, too commonly done, 

 the animal being allowed too much. 



He then perspires freely, becomes weak and 

 liable to disease. I have known for years that 

 among town cart and cab horses to whom grass 

 has been allowed as described, sore throats and 

 influenza have appeared almost simultaneously 

 with its use, besides colic, weed, &c., &c. 



Two or three weeks' feeding while the plants 

 are young may answer for easily wrought 

 horses, but in my opinion that state of the 

 animal's body which we term condition should 

 not be so trifled with. Aptitude for work is 

 iiot a condition which is obtained in a few 

 days or hours. It is only obtained during 

 weeks, and at considerable expense. Most per- 

 sons know, or at least presume to know, what 

 training the racer requires, and how long a 

 hunter is in being got ready for the field; 

 yet we find the same people sacrifice the con- 

 dition of a draught horse during a season 



H 



