GROOMING AND FEEDING. 25 



add to his general health, strengthen his legs, 

 and extend the number of years he will work 

 for you. 



In the winter, autumn, and spring, when your 

 horse has been doing a lot of work, and seems 

 listless and out of condition, a few split beans 

 added to the food once or so a day may help 

 him. But you must be very careful about 

 giving beans. They produce a good deal of 

 heat, and. unless used with the greatest care 

 your horse's legs will begin to swell, " fill," as it 

 is termed, in which case the beans will do more 

 harm than good. 



Some people use moss litter for bedding, but 

 in the country, where manure is so valuable, this 

 cannot be recommended. Very often moss litter 

 contains seeds of weeds, so that when you place 

 it on the land as manure, you may be sowing a 

 crop of weeds, and no more deadly enemy has 

 the farmer than weeds. When once they get 

 hold of the land, it takes a long time and much 

 money to get rid of them. 



How to Treat a Horse. 



There is a golden rule, " Be firm, but kind." 

 If possible, never change your mind. Let a 

 particular word and tone of voice always mean 

 that you intend a horse to do a certain thing, 

 and see that you are obeyed. If possible, never 



