CHAPTER XVIII 
THE WORK HORSE 
Ir has been estimated that two-thirds of the horses in 
the United States are work horses, and that a sum equal 
to two-thirds their value is needed every year to pay for 
their feed and care. Therefore the work horses of the 
country are an expense which must be offset by their 
profitable employment. In order to be kept at the high- 
est state of efficiency as well as to be maintained eco- 
nomically, horses must receive proper feed and care. In 
no other class of farm animals is there so large an aver- 
age investment, and therefore no other that offers so 
large an opportunity for saving. 
FEEDING WHEN AT WORK 
In the feeding of a hard-worked horse, the essential 
points are to give feeds containing a large amount of 
net energy, and of such nature that they will agree with 
the digestive system of the horse under conditions of 
severe work. Most of this energy must be obtained from 
the grains, as the hays are too bulky to supply the net 
energy needed. From the standpoint of energy alone, 
' corn would be best, with barley second, and wheat next, 
but when the effect on the digestive system is taken into 
consideration, it is found that oats are distinctly the best 
feed, although horses may be successfully fed on either 
corn or barley. Such hays as clover, vetch, and alfalfa, 
251 
