28 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



a more favourable light. The fact remains that the 

 majority of South African mail coach horses, which 

 have to do 10 to 12 mile stages over bad ground at a 

 fair rate of speed, go through their work well and keep 

 in good condition, on nothing but maize and oat or 

 wheat chaff. At the same time, it is well recognised 

 by those in charge of these and other horses in that 

 country, that the addition of a few pounds of oats or 

 of oat-hay to the daily allowance of maize and chaff is 

 very useful for imparting additional vigour to these 

 animals. I may mention that these coach horses 

 which are hardy, light-built animals of an average 

 height of about 14hs. 2ins. get about 18 Ibs. of maize 

 and about 5 Ibs. of chaff, with an occasional feed of 

 grass on the veldt. 



From my own observations made in South Africa, I 

 have come to the conclusion that the quietness and 

 want of spirit shown by the generality of horses in that 

 country, are to a certain extent due to the fact that 

 Indian corn forms a large proportion of their food. 

 Maize mixed with gram and bran (say, in equal parts by 

 weight), or with oats is in every respect better for hard- 

 working horses, than by itself. 



Maize may be given either whole, bruised, or soaked. 

 To horses not accustomed to this grain, it is safest to 

 give it bruised and mixed with either chaff or bran. In 

 this state, it might be slightly sprinkled with water in 

 order to keep down the dust which might arise from 

 the finely divided particles ; although I do not see any 

 material benefit from this provision. If gradually 

 brought on to its use, the grain may be given whole. 



