THE HOESE AND ITS DISEASES. 47 



practical experience, that I stand not in the least fear of 

 a contrarity of opinions upon so conspicuous a part of 

 the subject. 



Stable management. — This is a subject of considerable 

 importance, but it is evident that the great variety of 

 matter entering into this work will not admit of all the 

 detail that may be wished. 



Feeding forms the most essential part in the care of 

 horses, and more error is committed on this head from 

 want of knowledge of the internal economy of the horse, 

 than is first imagined. 



The horse is an animal intended for speed — is furnished 

 with a very small stomach, but capacious intestines, he 

 therefore should be fed but a little at the time ; and as we 

 know that whenever the stomach is empty, a great debility 

 pervades the whole frame, and as a small stomach must 

 be frequently empty, so we should frequently feed our 

 horses, giving them but a little at a time. The general 

 food of horses is herbage, green or dry, and grain, which 

 is always dry. To horses under common labor, from 1 8 

 to 20 pounds of sound meadow hay, with a stone and 

 a-half of oats, daily, will be fully sufficient for any 

 horse, no matter how hard his work may be. Should 

 anything lessen the work, one stone, with a bran mash 

 at night, will be enough. Some persons, when hay is 

 dear, and corn cheap, substitute wheaten straw for hay, 

 others mix straw with their hay ; but by far the most 

 economical mode for the owner, and the most nutritious 

 for the horse, is the use of chaii, which, "when mixed with 

 corn, is called manger feeding. Potatoes and corn mixed, 

 or bran, with potatoes boiled and mashed, agree with all 

 constitutions. 



Carrots form an excellent food for horses, particularly 

 for pursine and thick winded ones ; tui^nips mixed with 

 bran is also good food for fanning horses, much better 

 than oats and turnips mixed, as the latter frequently 

 creates flatulency and colic. 



Changing the food of horses is found very beneficial 



