THE ARMY HORSE. 219 



old is a proof of this. His work is extremely hard, and is 

 out of all proportion as compared to that required from a 

 fashionable horse, or from a troop horse, and he can stand 

 it as well or better than any other kind of animal without 

 becoming unsound. He is, however, well fed from the first, 

 and is methodically exercised from an early age. In fact, he 

 is brought up like a thorough-bred. 



All race horses are not thorough-breds, but all have been 

 brought up with a view to racing. From their birth they 

 receive the care and feeding which is appropriate to the work 

 they will have to do. They begin to eat a little oats during 

 the first days of their life, and when six or eight months old 

 they get five quarts of oats a day. At eighteen months they 

 are stabled, highly fed, and trained. At two years old they 

 take part in special races. 



A similar, though somewhat slower method, is employed 

 with trotters, which do not run until they are three years old. 

 In both cases nature is helped by feeding, and by gradual 

 and constant exercise. 



The breeder of other horses hinders nature by insufficient 

 feeding. A horse grows fast, and his skeleton and muscular 

 system are large. In order that he may grow quickly, and 

 acquire the necessary strength, his food should be abundant, 

 and his exercise should be favourable for the development of 

 his strength and speed. The only young horses which are 

 well fed and exercised, are those which are intended for racing 

 or for stud purposes. Other animals are kept at grass, 

 because that is the most economical method of bringing them 

 up. Under the influence of this watery and innutritious food 

 and want of exercise, the horse's development is retarded in 

 every way, his bones ossify slowly, and his muscles do not 

 stand out. The older he grows, the more debilitated does 

 he become. At three years he is only backward, but between 

 four and five years of age he suffers greatly frorri anaemia. 



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