STABLE MANAGEMENT 221 



Wherever hay is a common article it is generally used 

 instead of straw, a very excellent provender being 

 thereby neglected. In Spain barley straw is commonly 

 given, being the most easily obtained, and though when 

 the writer first began to train EngHsh thoroughbreds in that 

 country he went to the expense of importing hay for them 

 from England, he soon found that they throve as well upon 

 chopped straw when once they became accustomed to the 

 change of diet. How fond horses are of eating straw every 

 one is well aware who has ever had to do with a stable, and 

 it is rather a curious fact that they generally seem to prefer 

 dirty straw to perfectly clean litter. Whether this comes to 

 pass from a craving for salt, which they thus appease by 

 eating urine-stained straw, has frequently crossed the writer's 

 mind, for it seems very probable. 



Although it was really impossible to decide the question 

 for certain, it was generally believed that horses throve 

 better on wheat straw than on barley straw when doing 

 fast work, and an effort was always made to obtain the 

 former whenever practicable. 



It must not be forgotten that a certain degree of bulk is 

 necessary in all food, in order that the digestive organs may 

 work properly, and this is one reason for giving hay or 

 straw, in addition to the nutritive qualities they possess. 

 During working hours food of less bulk may be given, such 

 as corn of some description, as it interferes less with the 

 breathing organs, but a certain amount of bulk the horse 

 must have at some time or other, and the best time for 

 giving this to hard-working animals is at night, when 

 complete rest is afterwards assured. 



A horse should never be fed or watered just before working 

 it, but if a choice must perforce be made between a steed 

 which has just been watered, or one which has just been fed, 

 it would be likely to cause less injury to the animal to take 

 the former than the latter. The water will soon pass out of 

 the stomach and be absorbed into the system, whereas the 

 food will remain undigested for a length of time and press 

 injuriously upon the breathing apparatus, culminating 

 probably in broken wind. 



