ELEMENTS OF HIPPOLOGT. 177 



7. Does he bolt his oats? 



8. Does the adjacent horse steal his oats, or bully 



him? 



9. Is he a spare* horse? 



10. Does he suffer from parasitic worms? 



11. Is his urine normal? 



12. Is his liver out of order? (This is indicated by 



the yellow and bloodless appearance of the 

 gums.) 



13. Is he watered regularly? 



"If it is still impossible to account for the horse being out of 

 condition, you should next endeavor to find out if he really 

 gets his oats or only a small proportion of them; in a word, if the 

 oats are being systematically stolen. Assured that the oats are 

 not tampered with, it becomes necessary to make further in- 

 quiries as to the habits of the horse, as to whether he is restless, 

 or. in the habit of fretting or over-exciting himself, either in the 

 stable or when at work. In some cases it is impossible to dis- 

 cover the cause or causes at work. In obscure cases, a complete 

 change of diet, and, as far as possible, of surroundings, often has 

 a wonderful influence. For example, a couple of months' run 

 at grass in the spring or summer is most beneficial to thin, hide- 

 bound horses. Failing this, it will often be found useful to fill 

 the manger at each stable hour with chaff; this will give the 

 horse something to pick at, and keep him from fretting. Some 

 men get horses into condition more easily than others, and it will 

 often be found that a thin horse, put into good hands, will 

 improve rapidly." 



Grooming is another important item in the care of the 

 horse. Much of the excretion is done through the skin. While 

 at work a horse perspires freely, and the very nature of his work 

 keeps him constantly, while at work, in a dusty atmosphere. 



*A spare animal is one that, for constitutional reasons, does not 

 take "on flesh 



—13— 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



