338 



MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



horse and raising colts. Farm horses work a very small 

 fraction of the time. On a number of Minnesota and 

 New York farms, horses were found to work an average 

 of about three hours a day. On such farms the cost of 

 horse labor could be reduced by using horses more ef- 

 fectively. Another way to reduce the cost is to raise 

 colts. From the nature of farm work, it would seem that 

 the average farmer should raise more colts than are 

 necessary to keep up the horses, so that there will be an 

 income from the sale of surplus horse stock. 



FIG. 1S4.— PERCHERON BROOD MARES AT WORK. WEIGHT, 3,200 POUNDS 



Feeding the work horse.^The work horse should have 

 rich food, as the richer the food the more easily it is 

 digested, and the greater the proportion available for 

 work. He should be fed liberally and frequently. The 

 hard-working horse has a good appetite, a vigorous diges- 

 tion and responds to intelligent care. Regularity in feed- 

 ing, watering and working brings comfort and long years 



