avery's own farrier. 275 



vegetables, and in their seeds and grain, and that the 

 animal appropriates them ready formed, which goes to 

 show that the stomach of the horse is not a chemical 

 laboratory for the manufacture of these constituents, but 

 that they are selected from the food he eats, by the 

 stomach, and deposited where they are required. 



It is said also, that from every five to seven years, the 

 whole body of the horse in all its parts undergoes a 

 change, is thrown off, and again renewed. Then each 

 day, a portion of the animal is passing away (in excre- 

 ment, in perspiration and respiration), and in each day 

 nature endeavors to repair the loss, for there must be a 

 constant building up and repairing of the body going on 

 at all times, consequently it becomes absolutely neces- 

 sary that the proper building material be furnished, or 

 the whole structure becomes weak and worthless. This 

 also teaches us that such food is necessary for the horse 

 as will supply the component parts of the body, in right 

 proportion for the healthy action of the whole. 



Long experience has taught us that oats is the best 

 kind of grain (dry food) we have for constant feed for 

 the horse, though it does not contain as much nutritive 

 matter per bushel, as some other kinds of grain that are 

 given in a more concentrated form, all which is more or 

 less prejudicial to health. The above, with some re- 

 marks I am about to make, will, I think, prove my posi- 

 tion correct as to feeding, and the propriety of an occa- 

 sional change of feed, &c., heretofore given. 



When the heavier and hot kinds of grain are used, it 

 is best to have it ground and mixed with good cut hay 

 or straw, so that you feed the same amount of nutritive 



