MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION 
27 
roughage, from 12 to 16 pounds of hay may be given to the largest stallion 
every 24 hours. This amount should be reduced for smaller individuals. 
According to him, an excessive amount of hay is conducive to dullness, 
and besides renders the stallion short-winded and uncomfortable during 
service. It is important that the stallion be allowed access to salt and 
ashes, or salt alone. Curryer desires that watering be before feeding, or 
at other times but not within two hours after feeding grain. 
Sanborn’s 62 system of providing grain feed for the stallion consists of 
giving oats twice a day and wheat bran once, while he advises such 
occasional and gradual change from oats to corn, which, he says, main¬ 
tains the appetite. 
During the off-season in winter, Stericker 62 advises feeding the stallion 
a fair allowance of grain together with some bran. The roughage por¬ 
tion consists of cut hay or oat sheaves. But the horse is not allowed to 
become too fleshy by giving him daily exercises. A few weeks before 
the breeding season starts the grain allowance, principally oats, is in¬ 
creased, so that when the stallion is active in his stud work he is at the 
same time fleshing up. During the season he is given all he will eat, 
not crowding him, however, and besides the concentrate allowance some 
green feed is provided for once or twice daily. In case that no succulence 
is available, hay is given morning and night. One of the daily meals is 
usually dampened with water. 
The method followed by W. M. Fields and Bros. 62 in feeding the stallion 
during the off-season includes the use of clean, bright hay as roughage, 
and for concentrates, oats with bran or shorts are recommended. Once 
or twice a week some vegetables are given, and whenever costiveness is 
noticed, as indicated by the hard feces, half a pint of steeped flaxseed is 
mixed with the oat feed. During the breeding period the feed allowance 
is greater and in addition half a pint to a pint of hempseed and raw 
eggs are mixed with the ration and given three times a week. The use 
of fresh grass is considered beneficial. 
During the summer time Dimon 40 recommends good, clean oats, clean 
hay and a good quantity of green grass, without resorting to drugs, eggs 
or condiments. Pasturing him in the morning while the dew is still on is 
considered beneficial to the stallion, especially to his feet. In the winter 
very little grain is to be fed and this consists of bran, oats and other 
light food. Whether with or without grain, carrot is pointed out as a 
good adjunct for winter feeding. A good ration may be in the form of 
oat straw together with carrots and a few oats. Corn stalks, grass, 
potatoes, carrots, turnips, and apples are listed as appropriate feeds if 
fed in small quantities in order to maintain appetite and keep the 
bowels loose. Mineral salt should always be accessible and dry wood 
ashes is almost always necessary. 
When out of season, Sanders 46 mentions oats as better food for the 
stallion than corn. But corn is recommended for part of the time should 
the stallion come down in flesh, or in case the work is heavy. When he 
is to be idled such as during stormy days he should not be given any 
grain at all. It is indicated that giving him access to grass during late 
fall is most desirable. But good hay must be relied upon in most cases. 
Corn-fodder, if available, is preferred. In order to prevent or remedy 
costiveness, the occasional use of bran mash is advocated. To sum up, 
Sanders points out that the adoption of coarse and bulky food for stal¬ 
lions must be increased in proportion to the extent of confinement, for 
he says, “there is nothing that will so soon destroy the health and vigor 
of the horse, and especially of his genital organs, as close confinement 
and high fever.” 
In view of the fact that some stallions are “hard” keepers and some 
“easy,” on account also of the exercise they get, McCampbell 63 states that 
it is impossible to formulate any specific directions regarding the total 
