BAD FEEDERS. 163 



oats each day, with appetite, is just as hearty as 

 the glutton who will consume half a bushel. 

 Growing colts certainly will, like growing boys, 

 onsume more than adults, and require a little 

 extra allowance. 



In stating that I do not object so much as 

 some persons do to shy feeders, I do not of 

 course mean a weak constitutloned animal that 

 suffers so much, when called on for exertion, as to 

 be off his appetite, so long as exertion is required 

 of him ; but I mean that a voracious appetite is 

 no sure indication of capability of endurance of 

 that sort of exertion that is called for in a horse 

 for a gentleman's purpose: though that purpose 

 may be that of a hunter. Give me a good back, 

 good loins, and a fair depth of rib, all beneath 

 it may take care of itself; for with the ends of 

 the ribs strength ceases ; the rest is mere distention 

 from gross feeding ; and though vast room in the 

 hold may be convenient and admirable in a mer- 

 chant ship, to bring home a thousand sacks of 

 oats, it is the very reverse in the horse, who is 

 never wanted to contain a peck at one time. 



If we see a horse poor with fair work, and 

 know him to be a bad feeder, I should say re- 

 ject him (it shows he cannot eat enough to sup- 

 port nature) ; but if with fair work he keeps in 

 good working condition, I would never refuse 

 him, because he might require a little manage- 



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