HORSES AND HOUNDS. 9 



oxen has not, in my opinion, any affinity; the purposes for 

 ■which they are intended being so widely different. By stall or 

 box feeding, young cattle are brought into the market much 

 earlier than in the usual course, being kept almost in a fatting 

 state from the time they are calves, the object of the feeder 

 being to keep them in as quiescent a state as possible, for the 

 increase of fat or bulk. Yards and boxes are therefore the best 

 places to carry out this object, with high feeding and a great 

 variety of food. But wliat purpose is to be gained by making a 

 three year old colt as fat as a bullock of the same age ? Horses 

 are not sold by weight; the hand of a horse dealer is not 

 directed to the flank or ribs of a horse, to feel how much fat 

 there is, but to his arms and legs, to find what bone and muscle 

 he possesses. The bullock is required to put on fat as quickly 

 and regularly as possible. The horse should put on muscle and 

 strength to ht him to carry the weight of another, as well as his 

 own, and I think it can scarcely be questioned whether exercise 

 is not as essentially necessary for this purpose in the horse, as 

 quietude is of importance to produce the other and contrary 

 effect with the bullock. Whoever has examined the arms of a 

 blacksmith, or the legs of a porter, must be satisfied, that the 

 constant exercise of the muscles in these limbs, is the cause of 

 their strong development 



It has also been said, that horses can be kept at less expense 

 all the year round, by having green food cut and given them in 

 their paddocks. To this doctrine I cannot quite subscribe — 

 when the costs of labour, cartage, &c., are taken into account — 

 for green food, whether grass, vetches, or Lucerne, should be cut 

 fresh every day, and in diy weather, or it will ferment, and be 

 in that state more likely to produce viscous humours. The 

 paddocks of which I have above written, are not intended to be 

 occupied by the brood mares all the year round, but only from 

 the end of October, to the beginning of April or May, according 

 as the season may be, early or late. From the middle of April 

 or beginning of ]\Iay, the mares should have the run of a large 

 and dry field, with not very luxuriant grass in it, and open 

 sheds to shelter them from the heat, or they may be caught u]) 

 with their foals, during hot weather, in the day time, and led 

 into their own paddocks, there to remain until the evening. 

 The mares, when used to each other, will run quietly together, 

 and I can only say my own brood mares were treated in this 

 manner for some years, and no accident occurred, either to foals 

 or dams. A bad temjiered mare must not, of course, be allowed 

 to remain with the others, but from vicious tempers I would 

 rather not breed at all. I am aware that the present system^ or 



