126 HOW TO FEED A HORSE. 



jS'ow, to come to working-horses, we would say, in the 

 first place, that as a general rule, especiallj for fast-work- 

 ing horses, a great deal too much hay and too little grain, 

 comparatively, and, indeed, too much of both is ordinarily 

 given. For a gentleman's carriage-horses, or roadsters, 

 at ordinary work, in their own stables, eight pounds, and 

 from that up to ten, of the very best, richest and most 

 succulent hay is amply sufficient, with twelve quarts of 

 good heavy oats, as a daily allowance. 



They should be fed with a lock of hay and half a pail 

 of water, the first thing in the morning, on opening the 

 stable ; and when the stables have been aired, cleaned and 

 littered, should have, after being thoroughly gToomed, 

 their other half-pail of water, and — if they be not going 

 out — ^four quarts of oats ; and when they have eaten these 

 they may have about four or five pounds of hay in their 

 racks, and be left dark and quiet. If they be going out 

 early, they should have six quarts of oats at their morning 

 feed, and no hay. 



If they be standing in the stable, and not to be put to 

 work until afternoon, they should be again watered, and 

 have four quarts more at noon ; and when they return at 

 night, should be cleaned, watered, fed with oats, and have 

 the remainder of their hay in their racks at night. This 

 will be found amply sufficient to keep horses in good 

 working condition, when no extraordinary labor — that is to 

 say, not to exceed from ten to twenty miles per diem — is 

 expected of them, and neither extraordinary turns of speed 

 nor feats of endurance. Half a bushel of nicely-washed 

 carrots, given, a few at a time, every week, will be found 

 to improve the coat, to be particularly beneficial to the 

 stomach and wind, and to be very grateful to the animal ; 

 and, in weather and in places where they can be easily 

 provided, a few handfuls of green meat, clover, fine mead- 



