174 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



and have long coats of hair, which a long winter night will 

 not drj, should be clipped for health's sake, if for no other 

 consideration ; this will enable the animal to do the work 

 with greater freedom and less loss of nerve force, as will be 

 seen by his improved condition and spirit. Horses used 

 for shopping, calling, and standing at the doors on the 

 street in cold weather, are better with their coats on, for 

 the removal of it would amount almost to cruelty, 



Good Feeding overlooked, but an important 

 Agent in improvement of Breeds of Horses. — The 

 agriculturist — the tiller of the soil — the producer of grain 

 or vegetable matter, will readily understand when for a 

 simile, we liken the sustenance of animal life to that of 

 plants, inasmuch as both develop stamina in accordance 

 with the materials used or consumed to promote growth and 

 perfection. In poor soil or earth containing little or none 

 of the constituents of the plant, it cannot grow and deve- 

 lop, even though assisted by cultivation and a favorable 

 season, as it otherwise would were it upon soil supplied 

 with or containing all that its nature demands. So it is 

 with horses in growth and perfection of development. 

 What can be expected but a faulty form from the progeny 

 of a starved mare ? This may in a great degree be 

 improved by subsequent generosity, extended both to colt 

 and dam^-to the latter when giving milk, and to the former 

 till a perfect form is attained and the animal has arrived at 

 its maturity. What wisdom or economy is there in stint- 

 ing and starving colts the first years of their existence, and 



