Stable Management. 65 



sometimes effect a cure ; but it must not be given while 

 the horse is at work, as he is very much inclined to sweat 

 while eating it, and will then lose as much as he gains. 

 Swedish turnips, or potatoes, are substitutes for carrots, 

 but they do not answer the purpose nearly so well. Both 

 of them should be steamed, not simply boiled; or if the 

 latter process is adopted, the water should be thrown away, 

 as it is not wholesome for the horse. 



Barley forms a valuable ingredient of food mixtures. 

 It is a gross mistake to charge this grain as being hurt- 

 ful. When used under common-sense rules it is safe 

 and profitable. We have kept hard-working horses in 

 splendid health and condition, when the food is mainly 

 composed of barley. 



Of Maize, or Indian Corn, we cannot speak so confi- 

 dently. In small quantities it may serve to cheapen the 

 whole mixture, but as a nutritive article it is far behind 

 even common oats, and creates the tendency to a 

 "washy" state of the system. 



Linseed is a valuable adjunct to horse feed, but it should 

 be used with care, as large quantities are apt to produce 

 a lax state of the bowels. The simplest form is that of 

 " tea," or "mucilage," made by mixing one pound of the 

 seeds with one gallon of cold water in a covered and glazed 

 earthen vessel. During twelve hours the mixture should 

 be stirred a few times, after which half a pint may be mixed 

 with the manger food every other evening. The results 

 are seen in the "kind," soft state of the skin and shiny 

 hair. Chronic cough is often greatly benefited by its use. 



Feeding. 



Horses should have the corn four times a day — at about 

 seven, eleven, three, and seven ; and the hay twice — at 

 night and in the morning. These times may be slightly 

 varied to suit the convenience. The quantity of each must 

 depend, as we have said, upon the size and description of 

 the horse, and the amount of work required of him. A 

 full-sized carriage horse will require at least five quarterns 

 of corn, and about twelve or fourteen pounds of hay, daily. 

 These horses being kept for show and style rather than for 



5 



