352 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



of the animal under average work; taking all in all, a 

 pound of the dried brewer's grains was quite as useful 

 as a pound of oats in the ration for work horses. 



Molasses. — Numerous trials have been made of feed- 

 ing molasses to horses, particularly in the South. It is 

 rich in nitrogen-free extract and hence is quite diges- 

 tible. In the South, where it is fed extensively, it is 

 fed from a large trough, and the animals are allowed 

 to eat at will. In the North it is customary to dilute it 

 with water and sprinkle on the hay. Molasses has a 

 good physical effect upon the animal. It encourages 

 skin secretions and keeps the hair fine and glossy. There 

 are some disadvantages connected with the use of mo- 

 lasses, however, as it attracts insects, especially flies and 

 ants, sticks to the animal's coat, halter, tie strap and 

 manger, and is difficult to mix with other foods. 



Patent stock foods. — If the horse is out of condi- 

 tion, or if the food is not so good as it should be, the 

 use of condimental or patent stock foods may be of 

 advantage in bringing the animal up to the normal con- 

 dition. The price at which these patent foods are sold 

 makes them extremely expensive to the consumer, and 

 the profits that accrue from their sale are great. Yet 

 if one has a horse that is out of condition it may be 

 profitable to buy a package of this food. There is noth- 

 ing difficult in the making of these foods, and any one 

 can mix a "conditioner" himself if he has the time and 

 disposition to do so. 



