344 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



horses and should be fed, watered and worked accord- 

 ingly. 



Fattening horses and mules for market. — In certain 

 parts of the country feeding horses and mules for the 

 market has become as much a regular business as feed- 

 ing cattle and swine. While excessive fatness may 

 lessen the future usefulness of both horses and mules, 

 yet the market demands such and it is the business of 

 the ■ producer to supply the demand. Providing the 

 animals are sound, it is not possible to get them so fat 

 that buyers will object for that reason. 



The methods practiced in various parts of the country 

 differ widely, as do the foods used. The animals are 

 purchased, their teeth are floated, and they are put in the 

 barn and fed gradually, as care must be taken for a few 

 days to avoid colic. On account of the small size of the 

 stomach it seems most profitable to feed grain five times 

 a day, while hay is placed in the racks so they may have 

 access to it at all times. One large firm gives three feeds 

 daily of mixed feed, bran, shorts and oats ; and two feeds 

 of corn with clover hay available at all times. The 

 animals are kept closely blanketed and stabled, with no 

 exercise whatever. To keep the blood in good order, 

 thus preventing in part stocklegs, glauber salts are some- 

 times used. These salts are used once a week. The 

 assertion is made that the salt aids in putting on flesh, 

 and that it gives the skin a soft, mellow touch. In some 

 instances, horses fed in this manner have made gains of 

 as much as five pounds per day for a period of 50 to 75 

 days. The average feeding period, however, is from 75 

 to 100 days and an average gain of three pounds per day 

 is considered satisfactory. 



Sample rations for the horse. — The following rations 

 are collected from various sources and furnish a guide 

 in determining the kind and amount of food that should 

 be fed under various conditions ; 



