6o HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA 



regards training, I have often been met with the objection 

 that horses would gorge themselves, and would even eat 

 their bedding, unless muzzled; but I have never found 

 this to occur when a full supply of oats has been given, 

 although I have had several horses in training that came 

 to me with the character of being insatiable gluttons. 



I desire to lay considerable stress on the subject of 

 allowing horses hay during feeding hours, as I have always 

 found this practice to be attended with the best results, 

 for not alone is the condition of bulk complied with, but 

 also irritation to the alimentary canal, resulting from the 

 presence of stimulating food, is avoided, as much as 

 possible, by the corn becoming diluted by the hay. To 

 see how reasonable this practice is, we need but apply the 

 case to ourselves with respect to the meat and vegetables 

 we consume at our meals. 



Green Meat. — Although the necessity of a supply of 

 fresh vegetalles, as a part of human food, is clearly recognized; 

 still, up to the present time, physiologists have been 

 unable to explain the rationale of the fact, and have been 

 obliged to accept it simply as a result of experience. In 

 the same manner we find that "green meat" is almost 

 equally as indispensable for horses. This is especially 

 the case when the hay which is used, has been subjected 

 to a process of fermentation, which gives it a brown 

 appearance, and often increases its sweetness, although it 

 diminishes its value. This method of curing hay is 

 seldom adopted in India, where an ample supply of doob 

 grass will fairly fulfil the conditions supplied by " green 

 meat " and ordinary hay. 



Variety in Food. — As far as my experience goes, I 



