FEEDING HORSES. 399 



as sure a crop in the Northern and Western States as 

 peas. 



The rule in feeding should be to use as many of these 

 different foods as can be easily obtained. Where three of 

 these different foods are in stock one may be fed one week, 

 another the next, alternating regularly. If the feeder has 

 never tried it, he will be surprised to find how eager the 

 horse is for the change. Some regard it better to give one 

 food two days, and another the next two, and so on. This 

 latter is probably the best way. Another way is to grind 

 the three foods together, and then each will enter into 

 every ration. But this is not quite so tempting to the 

 appetite, as the flavor is the same at every meal. We have 

 dwelt, at some length, upon this matter of change of food, 

 but it is a vital point in the practice of the skillful feeder, 

 and cannot be too closely studied. 



The colt, whether intended for fast or heavy work, 

 should be handled at frequent intervals through all the 

 period of growth. The old theory, so insisted upon by 

 some, is that the colt will have more spirit if it is allowed 

 to run wild, without handling, till three or four years old. 

 It will evidently be more difficult to break, and, for a long 

 time, if not always, less obedient to the will of man, than 

 if handled, as it should be, from two weeks old. Is an 

 animal less able to exert his power at the will of man that 

 has learned to have implicit confidence in him, than if he 

 has run wild, and having little or no confidence in man? 

 There is no foundation in the theory whatever, but the 

 exact opposite is the fact. There is much to be gained by 

 controlling the colt through all stages of its growth. But 

 there should be no roughness in handling him. The colt 

 should be accustomed to grooming from an early age, and 

 it should learn to depend upon man for the supply of its 

 wants and to regard him as its best friend. 



