THEIR FEED AND THEIR FEET. 23 



thus treated.* Ample rest is no doubt beneficial to 

 horses who are at times put to ^^reat strain ; but the 

 aim should be to maintain the balance. They should 

 be fed physiologically. " Little work, little feed," 

 should be the rule ; unless, indeed, the horse-owner 

 feels the necessity — since he is dependent, usually 

 (if a dealer), upon the fat, sleek appearance of his 

 horses — of keeping up the appearance of his animals, 

 whether they get much exercise or not. But this 

 does not demand three meals, by any means, since 

 the horse will eat at two more than he can digest and 

 assimilate, and may be kept fat on this system, and 

 with less danger of an outbreak of disease, than if he 

 were more frequently fed. But this question — the 

 number of meals — is fully discussed, and examples 

 cited, further on. 



The following contribution to Turf, Field, and 

 Farm, concerning the number of meals best for all 

 classes of horses, has brought me several letters cor- 

 roborating the position therein taken, and also others 

 asking specific advice as to the best regimen under 

 special conditions of work, etc., as in case of stage 



* I long ago predicted that the time would come when the 

 winning horse, or man, would be he who trained on flesh, instead 

 oioff'y that is, who had no fat to get rid of, but would gain in 

 weight from the start, during every day's work, until the max- 

 imum of muscle and muscular power was reached. This year I 

 am pleased to see this prediction verified by the account that 

 comes across the water, viz. : that in the last three races of cer- 

 tain English boat clubs, the winning crew has been the one that 

 gained in weight during training ! 



