HORSES: 



THEIR FEED AND THEIR FEET. 



In undertaking the congenial task of writing a 

 short treatise on the horse, I have not in mind the 

 consideration of all of his various ailments — the 

 means, whether by drugging or what not, of " curing" 

 him of his " diseases " — but rather having him, as we 

 do, at the start, in health, I would endeavor to show 

 how we may prevent disease. In a long experience, 

 dating from early boyhood, when I thought, as most 

 persons still think, that the principal, if not the 

 only, thing is to feed high and often, I find that with 

 horses as with men, more of them decline, become 

 " seedy," emaciated, and sorry sights to behold, from 

 overfeeding, or, what is nearly the same thing, under- 

 working, or from a combination of the two causes, 

 than from any lack of food or care, as the term " care " 

 is commonly interpreted. 



Most persons love a horse, and I have seldom found 

 an owner who would not go hungry rather than have 

 his horse go without food. He will say, " I will feed 

 my horse before I will myself," and, in practice, too, 

 will do it. To be sure, there is seldom any con- 



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