1 88 FEEDING. 



of an animal which does not get sufficient corn to satisfy his 

 appetite ; because the quantity of hay which he will consume, 

 in order to fill up the vacant space in his interior, will inter- 

 fere to a greater or less extent with the digestion of the corn 

 in the stomach. Precautions against such an occurrence are 

 hardly needed in the case of a horse which has as much, or 

 nearly as much, grain as he cares to eat ; because he is not 

 likely to overfill himself with hay, after having just consumed 

 a good allowance of the more palatable part of his food. As 

 a rule it is best to mix the hay through the corn in the form 

 of chop. When this cannot be done, some hay should be 

 given before feeding, and also while the animal is eating his 

 grain. In determining the daily amount of chop or of the 

 hay which is to be given before feeding, we may safely take 

 as a maximum the average amount of hay which a horse 

 having an unlimited supply of corn would eat. Putting this 

 quantity of hay at 7 Ib. for a light horse, and at 10 Ib. for a 

 heavy animal, we may estimate the ordinary weight of chop 

 at respectively 5 Ib. and 7^ Ib. say I Ib. and ij Ib. for 

 each of the five daily feeds, the remainder being given last 

 thing at night. 



HOURS OF FEEDING. 



The food of a working horse, as we have already seen, 

 should be divided into several portions (at least five) during 

 the twenty-four hours. This rule of frequency of feeding can 

 generally be observed during the day. Although it cannot 

 be usually carried out at night, there is no excuse, except 

 that of laziness or over-work on the part of the groom, for 

 not giving the last feed at ten or eleven at night, and the first 

 one at six o'clock in the morning, or somewhat earlier. This 

 interval of from six to eight hours, which is certainly a long 

 one from a horse's point of view, can best be filled up by a 

 supply of long hay, the use of which might be considered too 



