236 THE HORSE IN SERVICE 



seed meal, in the proportions of 9 to 1, constitutes a perfectly 

 satisfactory ration for the work horse, and is effective of a very 

 material saving in cost. 



Ear corn is most desirable for horse feeding, as the kernels 

 keep best in the original package, as it were. There is a certain 

 freshness about it that horses prefer, and, besides, they are com- 

 pelled to eat it slowly. Corn in this form, however, is bulky to 

 handle in the trade and few city stables are equipped to store it 

 in any quantity. The most reasonable objection to the more 

 general feeding of com, off the farm, is the difficulty in securing 

 ear com in good condition. 



Shelled or cracked com is more convenient for all but the 

 farmer feeder. It is not so safe nor satisfactory as ear corn, 

 however. 



Cornmeal coarsely ground, and in combination with oats, 

 bran, or cottonseed meal is excellent, providing the corn can be 

 ground as required. But the commercial meal is more liable to 

 cause trouble by its oil becoming rancid and the mass spoiling 

 than is corn in any other form. 



It is probable that the opposition to corn for horses, so 

 common among both city feeders and their veterinary advisers, 

 is due more to the qviality and condition of the corn which usu- 

 ally reaches city horses than to the composition of the com itself. 

 The satisfactory results which attend its judicious use in the 

 country, generally, would seem to vindicate the contents of the 

 com crib from responsibility for the alleged evils of com feed- 

 ing. By properly balancing the ration of which corn forms a 

 part, the nuich dreaded " heating " effect may be largely over- 

 come. 



Bran ranks third as a horse feed, although it can hardly be 

 considered as an exclusive feed, except for occasional or exce]> 

 tional use. In work stables it is customary to feed a bran mash, 

 preferably wet, at least once a week, and that Saturday night. 

 The practice is commendable, as it tends to offset the effect of 

 continued high feeding of horses at hard work, as well as being 

 acceptable to the horses for the sake of variety. Much depends 

 upon the preparation of the mash. The coarse, flaky, winter 

 wheat bran is preferable; add sufficient water to moisten it 



