FEEDING AND WATERING. 33 



is in the stomach, feed less grain. Too much grain will often 

 make a disordered stomach, and the animal will do better on 

 less. 



The breath of a horse or any other animal upon its food is 

 unwholesome. For this reason put into the manger only food 

 enough for one meal. 



Meal is not a natural food for a horse which can chew 

 well. They eat it too fast and it does not get enough saliva 

 with it to digest well. The saliva is the first secretion in the 

 process of digestion and it must do its part to have the food 

 agree fully with the animal. 



Green forage crops must be fed with discretion and not 

 largely at first, or the result will be profuse sweating, result- 

 ing in weakness, and sometimes colic. It is never safe to 

 turn horses with strong, unsatisfied appetites for green crops 

 loose in the rank growth. 



Every barn should have a bran bin which should be re- 

 plenished annually at the time when bran is low in price. Its 

 cost per ton is usually as low or lower than that of the best 

 hay. Bran should be fed liberally when the old coat is 

 shedding, and each horse should be treated to a daily ration 

 in summer. Its tendency is laxative, keeping the en<^''-e 

 system cool, and its effect upon the skin excellent, prevent- 

 ing surface irritation common among animals fed largely 

 upon corn. Four quarts of bran with a pint to a quart of oil 

 meal lightly saUed will appeal keenly to the horse's taste. 



Potatoes are an excellent food for horses during the 

 winter, in connection with other food, keeping their bowels 

 open and their skins loose. 



There is nothing better than sweet apples to help put a 

 horse in fine condition. Give them four quarts at a mess 

 three times a day with the grain. Few people realize the 

 value of sweet apples as a relish for horses. 



