HORSES 389 



on the part of the trainer fully as much as stubbornness on 

 the part of the horse. Biting may be started by teas- 

 ing; and kicking often has its beginning in fright from 

 something loose about the harness or vehicle before the colt 

 is well broken. 



Treatment of horses. The horse should be treated 

 with kindness and firmness. The driver who strikes or 

 jerks because of his anger or petulance deserves the con- 

 tempt of all lovers of animal life, and should not be en- 

 trusted with horses. One who will work a team in the 

 heat and dust and then allow them to stand over night with- 

 out cleaning shows either lack of intelligence about horses or 

 cruelty. To drive a team until they are sweaty and then 

 allow them to stand in a cold wind unblanketed reveals not 

 only heartlessness but bad business management. 



The horse can not be taught like a person. Therefore, 

 only one single word of command should ever be used for 

 the same act. Whoa should always mean an immediate and 

 dead stop ; back should mean to step backward, and not 

 merely to stop. Some one signal alone should be used to- 

 start, and the horse never allowed to start without this sig- 

 nal. Care in such simple points as these would result in 

 much better broken and safer horses. 



7. Feeding Horses 



The feeding of farm work horses is a different prob- 

 lem from the feeding of most other farm stock. This is 

 because the horse is fed for work, while other animals are 

 fed for meat, milk, eggs and so on. 



The ration for horses. The ordinary farm ration for 

 working horses is some form of hay for roughage, and 

 one or more cereals, such as oats or corn. The particular 

 kind of hay fed is not important, so that it is in good con- 



