252 THE HORSE IN SERVICE 



Corn stover must be either cut or shredded in order to be 

 conveniently used for bedding. It is CTistomary to feed a gen- 

 erous allowance and 'permit what is not consumed to go under 

 the horses for bedding. 



Feed boxes should be easily taken out in order that they may 

 be frequently cleansed and kept sweet. Various schemes ha\'e 

 been devised for the purpose of preventing too rapid bolting of 

 feed and throwing it out. Aside froin the patent slow feed- 

 ing contrivances, a broad, flat-bottomed box which insures the 

 feed being spread in a thin layer, or a few good-sized cobble- 

 stones placed in the ordinary box will serve to prevent hogging, 

 while a flange about the rim of the feed box will help retain the 

 grain, altliongh increasing the difficulty of removing what feed 

 is left, in case it may be necessary to do so. 



Mangers for the roughage should not be f)laced higher than 

 the Ic'vel of the feed box and should be provided with either 

 cross slats or some other means to prevent the hay being thrown 

 mit. They should be open at the bottom in order that they may 

 be kept clean from dirt, chaff, and all trash. It is recommended 

 by some that feeding be done from the floor, inasmuch as that 

 is the natural position of the grazing horse. It has the advan- 

 tage of cheapening construction and economizing stall space, as 

 well as enliancing the security of the horse in the stable. It 

 requires a careful allotment of hay, liowcver, as what is not 

 readily consumed will be wasted, and with those horses M-hich 

 have acquired the habit of pawing whatever is in fi-ont of them 

 back nnder their hind feet it will prove a wastefnl practice. 



Ties. — A liiirso should be tied securely in his stall for the 

 protection of Invtli himself and others in the stable, but the method 

 of tying should be such as to enable hiiu to rest comfortably, yet 

 withont danger of becoming either cast or entangled in the halter 

 shank. Comfort requires that a horse be pciTnitted to lay his 

 head flat on tbe floor, yet much more length than this will enable 

 him to get a foot over the halter. Both comfort, and safety are 

 met In- attaching a weight to the end of the halter shank equiva- 

 lent to the weight of the shank itself, allowing the shank to slip 

 throngh either a ring or a hole in the manger ^vithout being tied. 

 The weight keeps the halter shank taut to the extent of not being 



