134 THE HORSE 



fat. In any case, if a horse " picks over " his hay, 

 pulling out and neglecting all but the choicest 

 locks, it is an indication that he is being supplied 

 with too great an amount. Ponies of fourteen 

 hands v/hich are not having oats will need twelve 

 to fourteen pounds per diem ; small ponies under 

 twelve hands eight to ten pounds. One should 

 never stint hay to any variety of horse, preferring 

 rather to limit the oats if a reduction in the diet- 

 ary is necessary. If chopped feed is given, a pro- 

 portion of the above-mentioned allowances must 

 of course be cut up. 



It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the 

 horse-owner that the food must be regulated to 

 the work of the individual, and that consequently 

 it is impossible to lay down any hard and fast 

 rules about the quantity of food required. Too 

 fat a horse is as incapable of doing good work as 

 one too thin, and the object must always be to 

 keep the animal in that condition vrhich will best 

 enable him to perform that which is requked of 

 him with the greatest ease to himself. 



TuET^iiS-G Out to Grass 

 It is undoubtedly beneficial to every horse to 

 get an annual run at grass. Kot only does the 



