94 FOOD. 



feeding too voraciously. It is for this purpose some- 

 times given to race-horses, when laying by in the win- 

 ter; but the straw is generally omitted. 



The best sweet clover hay, cut into chaff, and a little 

 of it mixed with the corn, given to the light delicate 

 horses, even when in training, is not a bad thing, by 

 way of change, and as an inducement for them to 

 feed. 



Bran is generally used in the preparing of horses 

 for their physic, it being made into mashes with hot 

 water, and suffered to remain covered up in the bucket 

 until sufficiently cool, when it may be given them. In 

 winter, it is a useful sort of food for such horses as are 

 apt to be costive from the quantity of corn they eat. A 

 mash of equal parts of bran and oats, given two or 

 three times a week to such horses as may be laying by 

 in winter, is very efficacious in keeping their bodies 

 in a proper state. Some craving horses, from resting 

 during the winter, are inclined to put up a great deal 

 of flesh ; this they may be allowed to do to a certain 

 extent ; but I am not aware of any advantage to be 

 derived from allowing them to grow so very fat, as 

 some of them will do. As far as my observations have 

 gone on this matter, horses are certainly more liable 

 to constitutional diseases, when in too plethoric a state. 



Such horses as are inclined to put up a great quan- 

 tity of flesh, should occasionally have mashes given 

 them as I have above advised, and these, with an occa- 

 sional half dose of physic, will keep them cool, and 

 prevent them from getting too lusty. 



