220 THE ARMY HORSE. 



which is a poverty-stricken disease that needs repair. I feel 

 certain that success in its treatment can only be incomplete, 

 and that a horse recovering from it can never be as good as 

 he would have been, had he been brought up differently. The 

 longer we wait to restore the young horse, the longer and 

 more unsuccessful will be the treatment. If the animal is 

 only a three-year-old, a few months may be sufficient, but if 

 he is four years, and still more if he is five, he will require 

 a year or longer. This undeniable fact is easily explained, 

 because the longer the animal suffers from anaemia, the more 

 severe does the disease become, and the greater is the 

 general wasting. 



The numerous cases of mortality among young horses are 

 to be attributed to this state of impoverishment (anaemia). 

 The debility which results from insufficient food during 

 the period of growth, makes them unable to resist the 

 slightest illness or the most trifling accident. It is also the 

 cause of many diseases, strangles, for instance, and obscure 

 lamenesses which are generally put down to youth. A 

 young horse is vigorous and healthy, if he is brought up 

 under good conditions ; but is weak and sickly if he has 

 a lymphatic temperament, or is anaemic from want of food 

 or exercise. 



Norman horses are generally lymphatic, soft and backward, 

 because Normandy produces less oats than other breeding 

 districts, and it is the custom in that country to give it only 

 to trotters. The breed feels the bad effects of this, and soon 

 degenerates, unless the stallions are chosen from trotters 

 which, having been always kept in good condition, are able 

 partly to correct the lymphatic temperament of the dam 

 which has suffered from anaemia in her youth. 



It IS not correct to say that trotters acquire their magnifi- 

 cent development and strength on account of their being 

 exceptional animals. Besides the brilliant instances which 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



