MANAGEMENT DURING THE HOT WEATHER 171 



Througli these slack months any injuries that the 

 horse's feet and legs may have sustained during the 

 previous season should be carefully treated. On this 

 subject it is sufficient to remark that time and rest are 

 the best means to obtain repair of injured structures, and 

 I would advise my readers to avoid heroic methods of 

 treatment, such as blistering, firing, bleeding, and giving 

 strong purgatives, except under competent veterinary 

 advice. 



During the hot weather horses should get a less 

 quantity of food than when in training, though they 

 should on no account be kept low, for if they be not 

 liberally fed, their systems will be unable to resist the 

 debilitating effects of the climate. It is not from theory, 

 but from what I have seen in practice, that I speak posi- 

 tively on this subject. An Arab may get eight, and an 

 Australian ten pounds of corn — three parts oats, one part 

 gram — with a couple of pounds of bran, and twice a week 

 at night a feed of bran, or every second night a feed of 

 boiled barley mixed with a pound of dry bran. A liberal 

 supply of any green food which is obtainable should be 

 given. 



The chief point to be considered is that the dung 

 should be properly formed — though that of some horses 

 which have been trained a good deal always remains 

 abnormally loose — brittle, devoid of all stickiness and bad 

 odour, and should be of a healthy yellow colour. When 

 oats are used the dung is much more yellow than with 

 any other grain. 



During the hot weather the horses should have an 

 hour and a half's walking exercise in the morning, and 



