, 1841-03-27
THE HORSE.


Though We have now machinery that sur
passes this animal in sreed, We are not ye,
ready to sbandun him und set him adrift.-
O:her people may prefer the camel or the
mule, but New England farmers know Of nc
servant; 10 be compared with the horse.
For the heavy draUght CIR for the race
for a ride Of pleasure, or for a tour into the
rough interior of our country, the horse is
our best companion and helper. We would
hardly estimate his worth but by his loss.
This animal is often abused though won.
tonnesS or care,esSness-6ut still more often
injured for want OF due consideration of the
proper mode Of treating them.
Within a few years it has been customary
for drivers of stages in our n~eighburhood Ia
give their horses meal in their water when
they only stop for a short time in the middle
of the day. II vas then not uncommon for
horses driven no faster than at present to tall
suddenly dead in the harness. On opening
,fs animal the meal would be found undiges-
TED and formed into a hard cake in the s,o-
mach.
We believe this practice is now wholly
abandoned. There Is a very prevalent idea
that it is injurious 10 give grain TO the sninaI
when he is warm. Now we have never
known any injury TO arise from this practice.
There is no more danger of injury TO the
horse than 70 ourselves by eating Il hearty
meal when warm. And who ever heard of
4 man killing himself with a hearty dinner
because he ate il when he was tatigued or
!ieatedi
|; is hard driving-violent exercise after
rTr;fp7v hanTfx- EnOd ftnr norsos ratn md ps
ten death.
Let man but reflect upon what has proved
Injurious to himself, and he will nationally
conclude what treatment was most likely 10
injure his beast. Let him eat 4 hearty meal.
then run. or use any very violent exercise
Immediately after. and lie will be at no loss
IN conjecturing what must be the danger Of
turously driving 4 beast after a hearty din
uEr.
1t is hard driving Immediately after eating
grain that kills the horse. and we venture To
assert that not an instance can be SHOWN IN
which he has sustained injury from eating
grain merely because he was warm. People
should reflect, and reason more on this sub
Jet.
Horses that travel and labor violently. rs
ii stages and fast chaSes. should eat Their
grain at night. When laborinE moderately
On u farm it IS not so material when heartipSt
food is given, for horses are not liable To- he
injured in any gear when they are only dri.-
en- in a walk.
But We have known mrn. prudent in most
matters. yet guilty Of s!ufing their horses
with grain in the morning. just before start
ing on 4 journey! They gave 10 grain lie
night before. reservin1 for he starting hour
the heartiest food for their beast.
On 4 journey we have lon- been in the
habi. of giving our horse grain IT night. We
give it as soon as lie is rubbed down and
put to the stable, and we have never found
il injured him.
How absurd to let your horse stand for
h1ugs, aitera violent exercise, to chop ~
rs " fodder and attempt To aPpease hs
hunger on hay-oflen poor hay, not fit 10 be
fed 10 young cattle. ,
Give the horse half a bushel Of oats or one
peck Of corn-ifh he has been used torrain-.
as soon as you lead him into the stable, and
he will fill himself m one hour or two. and he
willing to lie down and enjoy a nap even be-
fore you retire to rest yourself.
In any part of the country If You see tn"
grain put into the manger Won my be sure
the hostlerfas not forgotten lis duty.-Fdr-
mcr'S CuhiUat0r.