THE HORSE 133 



strongly condemned, raul we would also particu- 

 larly warn the horse-owner agamst buying hay 

 already cut. The commonest trick of the hay 

 merchant is to cut inferior stuff, and deliver it as 

 a portion of the purchased load, as in this way he 

 saves a bale or so of the good hay for which he 

 has been paid a fair price, and substitutes some 

 damaged fodder which is probably worthless and 

 unfit for food for horses. If chopped hay is used, 

 it must be cut at home from such samples of hay 

 as would be given to the horse long ; but, as we 

 have akeady suggested, such slight advantage as 

 may accrue from its use is hardly worth the ex- 

 pense of purchase of a feed-cutter, and the waste 

 of a man's time using it. 



The army ration of hay is twelve pounds, and 

 this is no doubt sufficient for a horse m ordinary 

 work. If the oat ration is cut down the hay al- 

 lowance must be proportionately raised, and for 

 every pound of oats which is saved three extra 

 pounds of hay should be given. For animals do- 

 ing hard work we should allow as much hay as 

 they will eat, which amount will soon be arrived 

 at by experiment and observation. Horses which 

 are leading an easy life will need to be rationed 

 if it is desired that they do not become unduly 



