534 Breeding and Management of Horses on a Farm. 
It must be remembered that a youn<^ animal of any kind that 
has been accustomed for the greater portion of his existence to 
live in the open air and to breathe a pure atmosphere, taking 
daily a sufficiency of exercise to keep him in good health and 
vigour, must of necessity experience an extraordinary change in 
his state and habits when first confined to the stable. For this 
reason, when first taken up from grass, he need not for a few 
days be confined to his stall, but suffered to roam about a yard 
where there are one or more loose sheds under which he may 
shelter himself from the sun and rain, and only stabled at night, 
when he will wish to rest. While kept in this manner he should 
be fed on soft bran mashes and hay, the former of which will 
frequently be sufficient to rid his bowels of any rubbish he may 
have picked up at grass, without which operation he will not sub- 
sequently thrive upon hard meat. If physic be necessary prior 
to feeding him with corn, the dose must be carefully apportioned 
to his age, form, and constitution — a close, round-barreled horse 
being generally better able to bear the operation of purgatives 
than one of narrower and lengthier formation. All proper pre- 
cautions being taken to put him in a fit condition for thriving 
upon the diet that will subsequently be allotted him, he should 
be allowed corn in proportion to his size, hardiness, and work. 
Most people are in the habit of feeding their horses by measure 
with respect to oats and beans, which, without knowing their 
weight, is a most absurd practice. A growing young horse, if 
he be put to a moderate share of work from the age of three to 
four years, should not certainly have less than three quarterns of 
oats per diem, and if he be large and thriving, will probably re- 
quire four ; and they should never weigh less than forty pounds 
to the bushel, which will be a daily allowance of from eight to 
ten pounds : if they be heavier, a smaller proportion may be 
given, according to their weight. The heavier the oat the 
greater will be the quantity of nourishment contained within a 
small compass — a matter of considerable consequence to the horse, 
which, of all animals, possesses the smallest stomach in propor- 
tion to his size. To this allowance of corn may be added from 
eight to twelve pounds of hay daily, or from a truss to a truss and 
a half per week : if the farmer be a careful man, and wish to save 
his expenditure of oats and hay, he will find that a smaller quantity 
will suffice while but little labour is required from his young 
horses, if he take care to have a good supply of carrots (which, 
when mixed with bran, are excellent food), or of Swede turnips, 
which are still more nutritious, although generally not so well 
liked l)y horses. 
The quantity and quality of food allotted to any horse should 
in all cases be sufhcient to keep him in a thriving condition. 
