258 FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



feeding horses. Some owners feed their horses when most 

 convenient, regardless of the wants or necessities of the animals. 

 The capacity of the horse's stomach is about sixteen quarts ; 

 people who are ignorant of this fact fall into many serious 

 errors. 



No one owning or having the care of intelligent horses 

 should have to be told how necessary to good health it is that 

 everything about the horses, and most especially about the 

 feed-boxes and mangers, should be perfectly neat and clean. It 

 is too often the practice of the attendant to. empty the contents 

 of the measure into the feed-box without once glancing in to 

 see if it is in condition to receive the food. If the horse does 

 not eat his food out clean the box should be cleaned out before 

 another feeding time. 



There is no animal more fastidious than the horse, and if 

 there is a little grain left in the box from time to time, it soon 

 commences to decay or mould and offends the horse's sense of 

 taste and smell. For the same reason the hay-rack or manger 

 should not be crowded full every time the horse is fed ; give 

 but a small feed of hay at a time ; usually about seven pounds 

 is enough. Following this direction the hay will always be 

 fresh and the horse will not gorge himself, but will eat it much 

 better and do much better. 



A horse requires an occasional change of food, as well as 

 the human being, but great care should be exercised in the 

 change from time to time instituted. Unless intelligence is ex- 

 hibited in feeding, the results frequently result in disaster. 

 Feed and water as regularly as possible. 



It is a fact well worth bearing in mind that you cannot ill- 

 treat YOUE HOESE IN ANY WAY WITHOUT MATERIALLY DEPEECIAT- 

 ING HIM IN VALUE. 



A state of uneasiness and restlessness by horses being yelled 

 at or unmercifully beaten about the stable, often lessens their 

 value and, indeed, often makes them worthless, when the satis- 

 faction of handling them is considered. A humane man will 

 be more guarded about using harsh language and ill-treatment 



