ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FARM HORSE. 385 
consume a vast quantity of hay or other stamineous food ; it is 
pulled down and trampled on, and wasted instead of being applied 
to the purpose of food. The loss sustained by the farmer in this 
way is rarely taken into consideration. The amount of loss by 
such reckless feeding may be safely computed at one-third of what 
is consumed. It is, therefore, quite clear that a great saving may be 
effected here, and much expense diminished. Another serious loss 
sustained by the farmer through the pernicious habit of feeding on 
a superabundance of stamineous food, is the production of broken- 
wind and other diseases of the respiratory system. I may venture 
to assert, without fear of contradiction, that there are more broken- 
winded horses in the stables of the farmer than in all other horse 
establishments; and the cause is, as I have before said, an unre¬ 
stricted supply of food, without reference to either quantity or 
quality. In some stables, in which only eight or ten horses were 
kept, I have known one-half become broken-winded from gluttony. 
Another fruitful source of this disease is damaged hay, from being 
either ill-saved, mowburnt, or musty, with free access to water. 
Animals feeding on damaged hay acquire immoderate thirst; and 
therefore when turned out to the horse-pond or trough to drink, they 
are oftentimes allowed to fill themselves to excess; flatulence with 
distention ensues from the effect of a disengagement of gas, the 
product of the decomposition of the imperfect food; the lungs 
become restricted in their action, the due performance of which is 
necessary for the production of healthy blood and the maintenance 
of health. If such management is persisted in, disease must follow, 
and organic change ensue. Horses that are crammed with too 
much stamineous food become inactive, listless, and out of con¬ 
dition, and incapable of ordinary exertion, thus deteriorating their 
value and usefulness to man. Carters and waggoners fancy their 
horses are not doing well unless they are everlastingly eating, 
little suspecting the stomach wants rest as much as any other organ 
of the body; and a habit that has been so long grounded in them 
will be with no little difficulty removed, by impressing on them 
the conviction, that the plumpness and firmness of the muscular 
condition of an animal depends not upon the quantitative but upon 
the qualitative supply of food : they ought also to be taught, that 
the stomach of the horse is not large ; thus demonstrating, that con¬ 
veying nutritive food which occupies less room is far more con¬ 
ducive to health than an engorgement with food of which a vast 
quantity must be eaten to afford sufficient nourishment for the wants 
of the system. Some farmers allow their horses without limitation 
the haulms of leguminous plants, the bean and pea : in a dried state 
these often induce constipation and gripes ; they are best suited 
for chaff. All food consisting of stamineous or leguminous steins 
