556 FEEDING AND WATEBING. 



" walked " for half an hour or more, then cleaned off, and 

 at nine has two quarts more of oats. If no drive is on the 

 card for afternoon, he is given a half to three-quarters of 

 an hour of gentle exercise. At one o'clock he has oats 

 again, as before, limited to two quarts. 



From three to four, he is driven twelve to fifteen 

 miles ; after which he is cleaned off and rubbed thoroughly 

 dry. 



He has a bare swallow of water on returning from the 

 drive, but is allowed free access to his only feed of hay, of 

 which he consumes from five to six pounds. 



If the drive has been a particularly sharp one, he is 

 treated, as soon as he gets in, to a quart or two of oat-meal 

 gruel ; and when thoroughly cooled, has half a pail of 

 water and three quarts of oats, with two quarts of bran 

 moistened with hot water. 



Before any specially hard day's work or trial of his 

 speed, his allowance of water is still more reduced. 



It is a very bad practice, and one that should never on 

 any condition be permitted, for grooms or teamsters to 

 give any kind of medicine, either for tonic or diuretic pur- 

 poses. Many a fine horse is completely ruined by ignorant 

 grooms and owners, who think they can help nature by 

 giving nitre and other strong medicines, that are never 

 admissible except in certain emergencies, and then should 

 be given only very cautiously. 



I am satisfied that many veterinary practitioners give 

 not only too much but too strong medicine, which, though 

 of apparent advantage for the present, must ultimately 

 result in serious harm to the health of the horse. Clean, 

 good food, properly prepared, and given in quantities 

 according to the needs of the animal, is safer and better 

 than to be giving medicine for every little change of condi- 

 tion. 



