HORSES 109 



often one sees horses and dairy cows kept in the same barn. 

 This is not right. The horse does not need so warm a barn 

 as the dairy cow. A combination barn where both are kept 

 in the same part is either too warm for the horses or too cold 

 for the cows. 



The barn on the farm of August Wentzel, Polk County, 

 Minnesota, is the best horse barn for farm purposes that has 

 come to the notice of the author. There is a wide alley in the 

 center, wide enough for hitching and unhitching horses, and 

 for driving through with a manure spreader. On each side 

 of this alley is a row of stalls facing out. In front of each row 

 is an alley for feeding. This is wide enough to allow the feeder 

 to work easily, and the windows are far enough away from the 

 horse not to blind it. 



The barn has sufficient mow room for the storage of hay 

 and straw and also bins for several thousand bushels of oats. 

 The grain comes down in spouts at the center of the barn 

 which makes feeding handy. The hay also is thrown down 

 chutes into the feeding alley. The barn is provided with box 

 stalls, harness room, and screen doors and windows. The 

 screen doors and windows keep out the flies and mosquitoes. 

 Provision is also made for hanging work harnesses immediately 

 back of each team. 



A horse-barn floor should be such that the horse has a 

 smooth and nearly level place to stand. There probably is 

 no better floor than mother earth but this kind of a floor is 

 not always kept in order. In such case, it may be advisable 

 to provide something artificial. The material to use is the 

 one that comes nearest to providing natural conditions and 

 that can be provided at the least cost. 



THE FEEDING OF HORSES 



When the subject of horse feeding is mentioned the first 

 thing that enters one's mind is oats. This grain is primarily 

 a horse feed. 



Concentrates. — Oats are considered a concentrate yet they 

 contain considerable roughage in the form of the hulls, which 

 are largely, if not altogether, indigestible. On this account 

 oats are not too concentrated. Oats also are made up of a 



