72 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



tion of the quantity of feed consumed to the amount of 

 work exacted. 



The greater the steam capacity of a boiler, the greater 

 the power of the engine ; likewise, the more perfect diges- 

 tion and quicker the assimilation of the food, so will the 

 power of the horse be. Unfortunately, however, this rela- 

 tion of the amount and quality of food to the work de- 

 manded is not always properly understood or appreciated, 

 because some persons argue, " no work, little feed," for- 

 getting that the wear and tear of the system is always 

 going on, and has to be repaired, work or no work, if the 

 horse is to be kept in health and condition. All over this 

 amount of feed may be kept back, and replaced when work 

 is on hand. 



The quantity and quality of food required for the keep- 

 ing of a horse in health and flesh during idleness is as 

 difficult to determine as fixing the amount of feed to be 

 given to all horses of every work. A horse well-ribbed 

 home, short-jointed, and of good disposition, will subsist 

 on much less food than one long-sided, loose-jointed, and 

 of irritable temper, whether in idleness or during work. 

 This can only be ascribed to a more perfect, although per- 

 haps not a more quickened assimilation in one class of 

 animal over that of the other. Some animals will fatten 

 on straw in the barn-yard, while others will starve, become 

 diseased, and perhaps die from its effects. 



The poor man with his one horse, upon which he and his 

 family depend for their daily bread, should learn the im- 



