THE HORSE, KIND TREATMENT. 153 



neglectful treatment. It is, in fact, the story of thrift and unthrift. 

 We expect few whom it might benefit will see it. The unthrifty man 

 whom we have depicted, seldom sees books, and we might almost say, 

 never buys one. Those however who do, may perform good missionary 

 work among the class we have represented, by showing them how quickly 

 thrift will follow good intentions, religiously kept, backed up by honest 

 hidustry, guided by careful judgment, and accompanied by a will to 

 perform. It will repair houses and barns, build gates and fences, culti-^ 

 vate smiling fields, rear and train good stock, lift the mortgage off the 

 farm , educate the growing family, and bring comfort and happiness to a 

 once cheerless and suffering family. 



IX. Using the Means We Have. 



In the foregoing;, it is not to be understood that expensive appearances 

 are necessary for training a horse, neither is it to be understood that 

 costly buildings are necessary. We have stated more than once that any 

 farm animal may be kept in the most comfortable manner, in a structure 

 made of poles and hay, and we will add, kept in as good health as in ex- 

 pensive stables. The reason is that the master who uses care in making 

 a simple structure warm and comfortable has humanity to start with, and 

 generally gives his own personal care and supervision, while in costly 

 stables the animals are usually left to the care of men hired for the pur- 

 pose. The owner, often, from the pressure of other business pursuits, 

 being unable to do more than to drive a favorite animal or team. In 

 perhaps a majority of cases he knows little or nothing of how a horse 

 should be cared for, and of course nothing as to the fitness of those 

 whom he pays for doing the work. 



The object of this work is to present in a condensed form the best prac- 

 tices, founded upon common sense, and the experience of superior 

 stockmen in the care of animals. A study of these pages will enable any 

 person to acquire a good idea of the simplest and best means for arriving 

 at a correct knowledge of how animals should be bred, raised, fed, trained, 

 and cared for. He may thus understand how to do the work himself, or, 

 in case he be a man of business, or wealth and leisure, he may quickly 

 know whether the help he relies on are doing their duty, not only in feed- 

 ing and cleaning, in exercising and the general care of the animals under 

 them, but also know at a glance, whether the animals are treated with 

 the kindness and consideration that dumb brutes, but faithful servants, 

 deserve from man. The closest and most constant attention to these points 

 will abundantly pay every farmer, and every wise farmer will be certain to 

 J»estow such care. 



