THE HORSE, HOW TO FEED, WATER AND GROOM. • ISf 



principal dependence, but in the Winter we have always giren ome-thiri 

 of the weight of the daily grain ration in Indian Corn, and we have aiwajv 

 thought, with decided benefit. 



ni. When to Feed. 



The importance of strict regularity in feeding is underestimated by 

 nine-tenths of the ordinary feeders, and by fully one-half of the stable- 

 men having the care of well bred horses. The horse, for whatever pur- 

 pose he is used, if actively employed, should not get less than three feeds 

 a day, besides the hay he eats during the night. All fast working horses 

 should have four feeds a day. The hours of feeding are of prime im- 

 portance. These should be, as closely as possible, at six in the morning, 

 at noon, and at six at night, except at those pressing seasons of extra 

 labor, when the morning feed may be an hour earlier and the evening 

 feed an hour later. In this case, however, nose-bags should be carried 

 to the field, or they should be turned to the wagon at 10 A. M. and at 4 

 P. M. to take one-third their usual allowance, as given morning and 

 evening, which meals, as a rule, should be rather more than the noonday 

 feed. When corn is the main dependence as feed these lunches should 

 be of oats, and if bruised so much the better. 



Fast working horses should receive their food four times a day, at six 

 in the morning, at ten, at two, and at nine at night. Carriage horse« 

 should be fed the same number of times, the first feed being at six, and 

 the last after their real work for the day is done, say at nine at night, 

 since simply going to some place of amusement at eleven o'clock oi 

 later can hardly be called work. The mid-morning and afternoon meala 

 will depend upon the hours at which they are generally used, nine A. M 

 and 1 P. M. being the usual times for feeding. 



IV. "Watering. 



Watering and the water used is of fully as much importance as t%& 

 feeding. A horse is particular as to the water he drinks, but yet may be 

 accustomed to any water without detriment if it be fit for human use. 

 The water of large lakes, rivers and running brooks is best and in the 

 order named. That of ponds without outlet or inlet the worst ; in fact 

 pond water should never be used ; well water is altogether better and may 

 be given without fear, when used constantly, but as with man, the hors» 

 accustomed to lake or river water, which is always partially soft, should 

 be given well water, when necessity requires, with care and only in small 

 quantities, the change being gradually made. Water should always Im 



