18 



notice at least, for if tlie horse receives too much food a hirge i^ortion 

 of digestible food must pass out unacted ui^on, entailing not only the 

 loss of this unused food, but also calling for an unnecessarj'^ expendi- 

 ture of Adtal force on the i)art of the digestive organs of the horse. It 

 is thus that, in fact, too much food may make an animal poor. 



In selecting food for the horse we should remember the anatomical 

 arrangement of the digestive organs, as well as the physiological func- 

 tions performed by each organ. Foods must be wholesome, clean, and 

 sweet; the hours of feeding regular; the mode of preparation found 

 by practical experience to be the best must be adhered to, and clean- 

 liness in preparation and administration must be observed. 



The length of time occupied by stomach digestion in the horse varies 

 with the different foods. Hay and straw jjass out of the stomach more 

 rapidly than oats. It would seem to follow, then, that oats should be 

 given after hay, for if reversed the hay would cause the oats to be sent 

 onward into the intestines before being full}- acted u^jon by the stom- 

 ach, and as a result produce indigestion. Experience confirms this. 

 There is another good reason why hay should be given first, particu- 

 larly if the horse is very hungry or if exhausted from overwork, 

 namely, it requires more time in mastication (insuring proper admix- 

 ture of saliva) and can not be bolted as are the grains. In either 

 instance Avater must not be given soon after feeding, as it waslies or 

 sluices the food from the stomach before it is fitted for intestinal 

 digestion. 



The stomach begins to enii:>ty itself very soon after the commence- 

 ment of feeding, and continues rapidly while eating. Afterwards the 

 passage is slower, and several hours are required before the stomach 

 is entirely emjjty. The natui-e of the work required of the horse must 

 guide us in the selection of his food. Rapid or severe labor can not 

 be performed on a full stomach. For such horses food must be given 

 in small quantitj- and fed to them about two hours before going to their 

 work. Even liorses intended for slow work must never l)e engorged 

 with bulky, innutritions food immediately before going to labor. The 

 small stomach of the horse would seem to lead us to the conclusion 

 that this animal should be fed in small quantities and often, which, in 

 reality, should be done. The disproportion between the size of the 

 stomach and the amount of water drank tells us plainly that the liorse 

 should always be watered before feeding. One of the common errors 

 of feeding, and the one that x^i'oduces more digestive disorders than 

 any other, is to feed too soon after a hard daifs worlc. This must never 

 be done. If a liorse is completely jaded it will be found beneficial to 

 give him an alcoholic stimulant on going into the stable. A small 

 quantity of hay may then be given, but his grain should be withheld 

 for one or two hours. These same remarks will apply with equal force 

 to the horse that for any reason has been fasting for a long time. After 

 a fast feed less than the horse would eat; for if allowed too much the 



