CARE OF TUE HORSE 



403 



When working hard, horses perspire freely and need 

 plenty of water. Little water, however, should be given 

 a horse when very warm. Unlike cattle, horses lack the 

 extra pouch in which large quantities of food can be 

 stored to be chewed at will. Hence, if a horse is deprived 

 of its regular meal, it is likely to eat and drink too much 

 the next time. This commonly leads to nervousness 

 and digestive difficulties. Too rapid eating can usually 

 be controlled by having a large feed box, and by feed- 

 ing the hay before the 

 grain. 



Horses differ widely 

 as feeders. Some are 

 known as "easy feeders." 

 Only a comparatively 

 small amount of feed is 

 needed to keep them in 

 good condition. Others, 

 on the other hand, es- 

 pecially those of a nerv- 

 ous temperament, eat 

 rapidly, digest their feed 

 poorly, and consequently 

 require more feed. 



Many owners feed timothy hay and oats with a little 

 corn, the year around. This ration gives satisfactory re- 

 suits, but it is better and often cheaper to vary the diet now 

 and then. During the cold months, when heat-producing 

 substances like corn are needed, the proportion of corn 

 should be increased to perhaps equal parts by weight of 

 corn and oats. This will reduce the cost. Also the pro- 

 portion of hay should be increased when the horse is idle. 

 At hard work the energy of the horse is needed for action, 

 not for digestion. The energy in grains is more easily 



PAIR OF MULES. 



