The Work Horse 259 
for other stock. When mixed with oats in the form of 
vetch and oat hay, it provides a very satisfactory ration 
for the wintering of stock, but when vetch comprises a 
large proportion of the hay, it is too laxative to be fed to 
work animals under usual circumstances. 
The straws through the West consist largely of wheat, 
oats, and barley. Of these oats is considered the best, 
although some wheat straw is good feed for the wintering 
of stock. Straw throughout the West could be more 
largely used than it is at present. The use of straw for 
the wintering of work horses as a supplement to some 
good alfalfa or clover hay could be made one of the big 
factors in cheapening the cost of horse power. 
In the western states, pastures vary from alfalfa to 
bunch-grass. Most of the grasses are very nutritious, 
except in some of the coast regions. In most sections, 
some use is being made of the range in cheapening the cost 
of horse power in wintering and also in the keeping of idle 
horses. Growing horses require other feeds on many of 
the pastures, especially in the winter. 
INFLUENCE OF LOCATION 
The section in which the horses are used largely in- 
fluences the feeding. In the sections where alfalfa is 
produced, it is fed exclusively except when wheat and 
barley are raised in addition. In this case a very satis- 
factory ration is made of the rolled barley for the grain 
and alfalfa and wheat hay for the roughage. For light 
work, the wheat hay and alfalfa may make the sole 
ration. In the Wheat-Belt the principal ration is rolled 
barley and wheat hay. This constitutes a very satls- 
factory ration, except that it is somewhat constipating and 
