148 MODERN FARRIER. 



succulence of the grass increasing the animal fluids, 

 and producing a degree of fatness which adds to the 

 weight of the horse without increasing his strength. 

 It also diminishes the powers of free respiration, by 

 loading the vessels; and in this state the animal 

 majj with great propriety, be compared to a fat 

 alderman when matched in a race v*^ith a lean active 

 rustic.^ It is, however, of the most essential benefit 

 to turn horses to grass occasionally, not only in re- 

 gard to a change of diet, but also to a change of air. 

 The spring-grass acts as a natural purgative, and 

 carries off various unhealthv concretions, that some- 

 times collect in the intestines of horses that are long 

 confined to dry hard food. It also facilitates the 

 evacuation of worms, particularly the ascarides, and 

 it renovates, in a striking degree, the whole mass of 

 fluids of the body. It is certain that nothing so 

 soon re-estabhshes a lean over-worked horse as grass ; 

 a change which sometimes cannot be effected in the 

 stable, even wdth the best hay and oats, and the 

 most attentive grooming. 



Hay is the principle fodder used for horses in this 

 country. Its smell and taste is sweet, and horses 

 are very fond of it, es}>ecially of mow burnt hay, 

 which is of a browner colour than the ordinary 

 kinds of hay. The sugar which it contains produces 

 thirst, and occasions them to drink much, which 

 tends to fatten them sooner than other food. New 

 hay is very indigestible, and productive of very se- 

 rious disorders ; it ought never to be given for food. 

 Very old hay is also to be rejected, for after the se- 

 cond year it loses its nutritive and digestible quali- 

 ties. Hay is never better than when it is about one 

 year old. 



Rye-grass hay is harder, coarser, and not near so 

 nutritive as the meadow-hay. But whatever may be 

 the nature of the hay, it is of the utmost consequence 

 that it should be sweet and wholesome, and not 

 mouldy, as bad hay lays the foundation for disease. 



