366 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



in a cold one. This may prove fatal. To take him from 

 a cold stable and compel him to stand in an artificially 

 heated one may be almost as bad. If the horse is prop- 

 erly groomed and provided with a dry, clean bed the tem- 

 perature of the stable may vary in accordance with that 

 of the climate. 



Bedding the horse. — The horse should be provided with 

 a dry, soft bed. The hard-working horse needs rest at 

 night, and he can rest much more comfortably if given a 

 good bed. The bedding should be kept fresh and clean. To 

 this end it is very important that the stalls be cleaned 

 each morning. The unsoiled bedding may be placed in 

 front of the horse under the manger, but the soiled 

 bedding and the manure should be removed. The 

 manure should also be removed in the evening before the 

 bedding is shook out and arranged for the night. Never 

 allow the stall to become foul, as this not only lessens the 

 comfort of the horse but promotes disease as well. 

 Wheat straw makes the best bed. Old straw is pre- 

 ferred, as it is drier and more elastic, thus making a soft 

 bed and acting as a good absorbent. When straw cannot 

 be obtained, or when it is high in price, shavings from 

 the planing mill make a sweet, clean bed. Many persons 

 prefer this material, as it leaves an agreeable odor in the 

 barn. Other materials that are sometimes used are re- 

 jected portions of corn stalks, tan bark, peat moss, leaves, 

 and the like. 



Care of the horse's teeth. — The teeth of the horse are 

 subject to many irregularities which prevent him from 

 thoroughly masticating his food. The upper jaw is some- 

 what wider than the lower, so that the teeth are not ex- 

 actly opposite ; thus the wear is not equally distributed, 

 and as a result sharp edges are often left unworn on the 

 inside of the lower molars and on the outside of the 

 upper, which may cut or lacerate the tongue or cheeks, 

 which become sore. When the horse attempts to eat, 

 the food materials irritate the sores and he will not feed 



