HEALTH 155 



Food. — The old writers on training were accustomed 

 to lay considerable stress on the necessity of " hard " food, 

 and a restricted allowance of water, in order to reduce the 

 size of a horse's stomach and intestines, and to harden his 

 muscles. At first sight, the former consideration seems 

 to be a most important one ; because, if these organs be 

 distended by the bulky nature of the food, the diaphragm 

 will be impeded in its effort to afford room for the action 

 of the lungs. As the question of food is entirely dependent 

 on conditions of health and nutrition; the trainer may 

 rest assured that if they be duly maintained, the animal's 

 organs will accommodate themselves, in the best possible 

 manner, to the work which he is called upon to perform. 



When a horse's powers are fully taxed, we may safely 

 rely on his appetite being the best guide for determining 

 the amoimt of his hay, corn, and water; for he will 

 instinctively choose the proportion best calculated to 

 furnish material for the repair of tissue, always supposing 

 that he shows no signs of ill-health, and is sound on his 

 legs. 



Health. — As the due nutrition of the system is 

 dependent on the state of the general health, we should 

 endeavour to secure the former by maintaining the latter 

 in the best possible condition; thus avoiding the too 

 common error of neglecting the cause for the effect. 

 Hence, if the slightest symptom of indisposition can be 

 traced to the effects of the food, its nature or amount, as 

 the case may be, should be at once changed. The usual 

 symptoms of derangement, caused by errors in diet, are 

 feverishness, with quickened pulse, and hot, dry skin; 

 looseness or constipation of the bowels; the presence of 



