260 FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



be caused by feeding corn-meal alone. Some feed it wet and 

 others dry, but, when fed alone, it is more dangerous wet than 

 dry, for when wet it may be swallowed with but very little 

 mastication, while the dry meal must be masticated until the 

 saliva saturates it before it can be swallowed, and the saliva is 

 a more active agent in the process of digestion than is mere 

 water ; therefore, it is in better condition for digestion when fed 

 dry than when fed wet. 



In my experience of upwards of forty years in feeding 

 horses I have never known any serious effects from feeding 

 even the finest of corn-meal when mixed with cut hay or straw. 

 My plan of mixing is to moisten the hay or straw (or both 

 mixed, half and half) just enough to cause the meal to adhere 

 to it that it may all be eaten together. Be careful in the mix- 

 ing and not get the hay too wet. 



My experience with horses and hostlers leads me to say that 

 there are as many horses injured by over-feeding as by under- 

 feeding. It should ever be borne in mind that every bit of food 

 placed before a horse more than his capacity for assimilation 

 and digest is not only wasted,, but is positively injurious to the 

 horse. It should be the study of all horse owners to see that 

 their animals do not go to bed at night either hungry, thirsty, 

 or suffering from too much supper. 



It would be assuming too much for me to say how great or 

 small a quantity you should feed your horses, for you will 

 find by closely watching a stable of a dozen or more horses that 

 some require much more feed than others. It is the same with 

 men ; what is eaten by one small man will sometimes be a suf- 

 ficient quantity for two larger ones, consequently I do not wish 

 to place myself on record as saying just how much or how little 

 you shall feed your horses, but would advise the owners them- 

 selves to see on how little food a horse can work and thrive 

 rather than to see how much food he can get away with. 



Of muscle-producing food, beans are first, oats second, and 

 barley third. Of fat-producing food, Indian corn stands first, 

 pease second, and barley third. "Wheat is also a most excellent 

 grain to be judiciously fed to all animals. 



