576 
FEEDING HORSES AND HOUNDS. 
coach proprietors vied with each other, not only in the acquire- 
ment of fortunes but also in the condition of their stock, one of the 
most influential, spirited, and intelligent horse-masters in the king- 
dom, residing in one of the midland counties, and whose highly 
conditioned teams were the pride and boast of the roads between 
Birmingham and Sheffield, as also in many other directions apper- 
taining to that locality, introduced the custom of bruising the oats 
consumed by all his horses with the greatest success. It may be 
as well to observe, that he is a man who would not be influenced 
by prejudice, or permit his intentions to be frustrated by the caprice 
or disinclination of servants ; neither is he one who would have 
continued the custom, which he has done, had he not been con- 
vinced of its advantages. 
* * * * * 
Having written lately to a friend to inquire the result of his 
experience on the subject, and who was formerly a very extensive 
coach proprietor, as well as breeder of thorough-bred stock, his re- 
ply is to this effect : — “ I did not crush my oats for coach-horses, 
not because the system was a bad one, but solely on account of 
want of room. I always very highly approved the plan, and in- 
variably crushed all my oats at the shed farm, and pursue the 
same plan at present. I am quite sure that one-fourth less oats 
will 'produce more satisfactory results if they are bruised than if 
they are given whole” 
* * * * * 
Should it not be inquired, why bruised oats are not used for race- 
horses 1 That the custom is not adhered to in training stables is 
well known ; is it not in consequence of the ancient usage of giv- 
ing them whole that the most celebrated trainers have not intro- 
duced it ? That hunters do better with them so prepared no ques- 
tion remains in doubt ; and I can corroborate the statement made 
by my friend in his letter, that a saving of full one-fourth is accom- 
plished. It must be observed, they should not be ground to flour, 
but simply bruised; which may readily be done, as they are re- 
quired for use, by one of the numerous machines which are offered 
to the public for that purpose. 
Prejudice has, doubtless, operated materially against the uni- 
versal practice in this instance, as it has often done on many other 
equally beneficial occasions ; and there are persons who contend 
that, although many oats may pass through the horse in an undi- 
gested state, the stomach of the animal has extracted the nutritive 
properties. Two well-known facts will, it is to be imagined, at once 
controvert such an opinion. Oats which have been voided in that 
state will grow, and poultry and other birds of the air will thrive 
