92 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



vious writings* we claim the credit, at least in some mea- 

 sure, of producing a reform in many essentials relative to 

 the treatment of the horse. This is our only excuse for 

 laying a stricture upon constituted opinion and public 

 belief in the value of the carrot as food for the horse. 



Grass, although the natural food of the horse in his 

 wild condition, leaves little more to be desired ; yet, it is 

 not suflficient to meet the demands of his nature in a state 

 of domestication, or when work is demanded from him, and 

 time is thus taken that is allowed in his natural state to 

 gather food. Some kinds of grass contain more nutriment 

 than others; but more, we think, depends upon the quality 

 of the soil upon which it is grown, and whether it is too 

 young or too old, or has ripened and its seed blown away. 

 If a horse is to be allowed grass merely for the good that 

 is expected from it, and not for any other consideration, 

 the better way will be to soil the horse, that is, by daily 

 cutting and bringing in the grass to the stable ; but if the 

 feet of the horse need repairing or growing down, then 

 select for the pasture, level and somewhat moist land. 

 We have spoken of diseased or bad feet being benefited by 

 soft pasture, because no disease of the legs or shoulders 

 will be benefited by a run at pasture, as the liberty thus 

 given to the horse, in his frolics and search after food, 



* " Diseases in the American Stable, Field and Farm-yard," 

 by th3 Editor of '< The Horse in the Stable and the Field." Por- 

 ter & Coates, Philadelphia. 



