82 
MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG HORSES. 
the absorbent vessels of the body ; the superfluous fluid 
therefore passes off through the intestines with the indigestible 
particles of food, and thus the watery faeces are thrown off. 
Flatulent colic or gripes is a frequent attendant. The sys- 
tem is deranged ; but the mischief does not terminate here. 
If the purging continues, a constitutional relaxation of the 
bowels is established, very debilitating to the animal, and 
often difficult to control. I am so decidedly opposed to an 
unrestricted allowance of luxuriant grass to horses at any 
age, that nothing could induce me to give it to them. I may 
not be able to enlist all my readers as converts to the prac- 
tice ; I trust I may a great many of them. After the second 
year, hay should form a considerable portion of the daily 
food, in summer, to every animal intended for hunting or 
riding. If a horse is supported entirely upon the grass which 
he collects in a rich pasture field, or upon that which may be 
cut and carried to him in his paddock, he must consume a 
much greater bulk than of hay in an equivalent time, to 
afford nourishment to the system. Grass being very full of 
sap and moisture, it is very rapidly digested, consequently 
the horse must be continually eating it. This distends the 
stomach and the bowels, and the faculty of digestion is im- 
paired ; for the digestive powers require rest as well as other 
organs of the body, if tbey are to be preserved in perfect con- 
dition. By the custom of grazing, the muscular system is 
enfeebled, and fat is substituted. This may escape the notice 
of superficial observers, who do not mark the distinction 
between the appearance of a fat and a muscular animal ; who 
conceive, so that the bones are covered, and the points are 
rounded, all that is requisite has been attained. But that is 
a very fallacious impression. Let any person who is scep- 
tical on this point ride a horse in the summer which has just 
been taken out of a grass-field, along with another kept on 
hay and corn, at the moderate rate of seven or eight miles in 
the hour ; the grass-fed horse will sweat profusely, while the 
other will be perfectly cool and dry. This proves that the 
system of the one eating grass over-abounds with fat and 
those portions of the blood which are destined to form that 
deposit. Those who advocate grazing will no doubt exclaim, 
u Oh ! this is a test of condition, which is not required in 
young and growing animals.” I beg to state that it is highly 
important, if the acme of condition is to be attained by 
animals of mature age, that the growth and gradual develop- 
ment of their frames should be composed of those healthy 
and vigorous elements upon which the structure of future 
condition can be raised. Animal substances are to a very 
great extent subservient to the nature and quality of the food 
