60 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



Salt in limited quantities should be kept before the horse at all 

 times. While little is known from investigations on this subject, 

 it is evident from the extreme fondness of the horse for salt that 

 it should be regularly supplied him. It is best not to place too 

 much before him at a time as some horses will eat it to excess. 



The successful horseman will study each individual and modify 

 the ration according to the varied needs ; one horse should have 

 a little more than the regular allowance, and the next possibly a 

 little less, because some horses are more difficult to keep in con- 

 dition than others doing the same work and under similar con- 

 ditions. 



In handling horses we should remember that they are very 

 sensitive animals and that we cannot be too quiet in our treat- 

 ment of them. Striking them or shouting commands at them 

 is an inconsiderate practice ; it causes the animals to lose con- 

 fidence in their master, thereby rendering them less teachable, 

 and destroys nervous energy, making them less economical pro- 

 ducers than if they were protected at all times from these ner- 

 vous shocks. 



FEEDING THE WORK HORSE 



The work horse has a very hearty appetite, a vigorous 

 digestion, and responds more readily, than any other animal, 

 to intelligent care. He should be fed liberally and frequently, the 

 quantity given being regulated by the size of the animal as well 

 as the amount and kind of work he is required to do. In gen- 

 eral, the horse should be supplied with something over two 

 pounds of provender daily for each hundred pounds of weight. 

 Of this about two-thirds, the exact quantity depending on the 

 severity of the labor performed, should be grain in some form. 

 If the work is exceedingly heavy, the grain in the ration should 

 be increased and the hay diminished; whereas, if the work is 

 light, the grain should be diminished and the hay increased. 

 The morning meal should be comparatively light, consisting 

 mostly of grain. It should not possess much bulk. In many of 



