68 HORSES: 



scribing their dietetic characteristics ; for the more we 

 work, the more we must and are every way entitled to 

 eat. When working up to one's full capacity and ex- 

 posed to the vicissitudes of a cold climate, then, and 

 then only, is the appetite anything of a guide as to 

 the amount of food best calculated to promote health. 

 With rare exceptions horses will never restrict their 

 appetites, but will continue to eat until they have 

 largely exceeded a physiological ration, whether of 

 hay or grain. Whenever an exception to this rule 

 has to be noted, it may be depended upon that the ani- 

 mal is already somewhat clogged, and, in consequence, 

 is slightly '' off his feed." Some horses are, it is true, 

 less gluttonous than most of the race ; but to the last 

 one, especially when doing light work, they will eat 

 too much if permitted ; or, in other words, they will 

 get ahead of their digestion ; and are, therefore, predis- 

 posed to the influenza cure or to the pink-eye cure, or 

 some other of Nature's methods of eliminating disease. 

 We know that there is no safety in permitting any 

 horse to have free access to the grain bin ; but if he 

 has such liberty with the hay-mow, or has hay in his 

 crib most of the time, which is the same thing, he 

 will certainly become dyspeptic in time, or at any 

 rate will keep himself so stuffed out (unless he is so 

 overfed with grain as to have little appetite for hay), 

 as to be unfit for a free and easy gait on the road 

 when first taken out. 



It is no easy matter to insure the health of the 

 " sedentary- '* horse. The fact is, he, like his master, 

 is designed by Nature for action^ not for a sedentary 



