174 ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGT. 



ponent of the food is largely digested in the intestine, the grain 

 component, especially oats, is almost entirely digested in the 

 stomach. Starting with these facts, the order of feeding and 

 watering is easily formulated. 



A horse does not usually care for water early in the day. 

 He wants his oats then, and should have them. Oats are con- 

 centrated food, full of nourishment and energy. They are easily 

 digested when thoroughly chewed and mixed with saliva. The 

 average horse should be given for his morning meal at least six 

 quarts of oats. They should be plump, of sweet, fresh odor, 

 and free from dust, dirt, or other seeds. After feeding oats, at 

 least two hours should elapse before giving water. After this 

 tims h3 should be allowed water at every opportunity until 

 again fed. If he is worked hard all day, it is best to give him a 

 second feed of oats at the noon rest-hour, remembering not to 

 water him for two hours after. When he comes in at night, he 

 should find' his hay ration in his manger and no oats. An hour 

 afterwards he should be given his grain, and left for the night. 

 If the stables are inspected at various hours of the night, some 

 horses will be found lying down, some dozing in a standing po- 

 sition, some feeding. They like to take their time with their 

 food. Their stomachs are small. They are slow feeders. Food 

 assimilates better if taken slowly. They are light sleepers, 

 easily roused, and they enjoy a nibble of food when awakened. 



Often when the stablemen come in, in the morning, in many 

 of the mangers a portion of the food offered the night before will 

 be found uneaten, even when no more than the usual amount 

 had been placed at their disposal. In such cases carefully clean 

 the mangers and feed-boxes before offering more food. The 

 horse is off condition and needs coaxing a little. The food he 

 has been nosing over all night has become stale and unattractive 

 to him. He will do much better if clean, sweet food is given 

 him, and he may be induced to eat quite a little if humored 

 in this way. 



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