AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 243 



our cattle were wholly confined to dry meat in winter. 

 Horses indicate this by their eating snow with their hay. 

 Set a basket of snow within reach of a horse, when he is at 

 his manger, and he will take a mouthful from each alternate- 

 ly. Of all juicy food for horses in winter, writers on hus- 

 bandry seem to give carrots the preference. They have been 

 found by experience to answer well instead of oats for labor- 

 ins; horses; and to fatten those which are lean. 



He that would be sure to keep his horse in good order 

 must beware whom he suffers to ride him, and must see that 

 he is never abused. Profuse sweating should always be 

 avoided. And when a horse is much warmed by exercise 

 he should not be exposed to cold air nor night dew, and 

 much less to rain and snow. If he cannot be instantly rubbed 

 down and housed when warm, he should be covered with a 

 blanket ; and he should always have a dry stable, and be 

 well littered. The neglect of these precautions may bring 

 on incurable disorders. 



Horses should not be too much deprived of the liberty of 

 motion, as they too often are. Close confinement after hard 

 labor will be apt to abate their circulations too suddenly, 

 make them chilly, and stiffen their joints. To be deprived 

 • '" motion is bad for man and beast. Horses therefore should 

 not be straitened for room in their stables. Stables should 

 not be so low as to prevent their tossing up their heads as 

 high as they please. Some stables have so little room over 

 head as to bring horses into a habit of carrying their heads 

 too low ; they become afraid to lift them up. They should 

 also have room in their stables to turn their heads to any 

 part of their bodies, that they may defend themselves from 

 the biting of insects, allay itching, &c. And their halters 

 should always be so long, and their stable so wide, that they 

 may lie down conveniently. Nor should horses be so placed 

 as to be able to deprive each other of his fodder. 



When horses are kept in stables, as they generally are in 

 the coldest half of the year, they should be daily dressed, as 

 it is called. The curry-comb and the brush should be \vell 

 used on all parts of their skin which are covered v/ith hair. 

 This increases perspiration through the pores of the skin, 

 which is necessary to health ; and causes the blood to move 

 faster in the veins. This treatment will not only cause them 

 to look better, but they \v\\\ have better health, and more 

 activity and courage. They will digest their food better, 

 and be better for service. But if rubbing and friction be 



