Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-12-10
Economy in Horss .Elesh.

clSlliz2tlOn, most horses are broken down
before they reach Is. The carly decay
and multiplied disorders of horses, indicate
that some great errors are committed in our
general education and management of this
noble animal. In an economical point of
view this matter is worth looking at. If
We could 60 into minute details it might
undoubtedly be shown, that hundreds of
thousands Of dollars are lost to the people
Of this State either by neglect, or igno-
rance, or Indifference to the care of horses
One obvious cause is the general i'll
treatment of horses during winter. Flesh,
strength, health and spirits can be secured
only by suitable care, food, warmth and
comfort. Cold is sad consumer of vital
power. Dwellers in arctic regions require
a large amount of nutritious food \ plcn-
tiful meal is Of essential service in defend
ing us from the effects Of the cold. Yet
how many horses arc condemned during
winter to coarse meadow hay, or other poor
folder! How many are unacquainted with
the luxury of blanket and curry comb .
How many sleep on bare planks. and
through the day stand shivcring in rickety
barns or in the open yard. The re.ul, is
that in spring they are rough, poor and
feeble.
Another cause Of their prema u-c decay
is too early hard work A horse we'll
treated reaches his full growth and strength
in about eight years, and from that age till
fifteen is in his prime. But most horses
strained, spraiucd, lamcd, or broken down
before eight, by untimcly applications to
hard labor. Light work, and moderate cx-
ercisc strengthens their constitution by III
crelsng the appetite and promoting the
general health. DR.. Warren says, that
Two hours work every day is abundan,ly
necessary to maintain their vigor and the
suplencss of their limbs. Ofcourse when
fally grown they can do much more, Ali
this, however, is very different from severe
labor upon a youthful frame. In this re-
spect herse differs in Do way from child.
Long experience has taught US that
health can be maintained $50 far as food is
cOucerucj) by three meals a day, and tha,
It 10 promoted when these are taken regu.
larly. A sure method Of disordering the
stomach and hindering its healthy action
is to cat at irregular intervals. A horse
has stomach subject to many of the con-
ditions Of our own. Over feeding, under
feeding and irregular feeding produce in
him effects similar to those produced in us
By i:,a causes Stnilo keepers understand
this and profit by their knowledge. Why
should not farmers? Farmers keep horses
for profit. Why not get and save as much
as possiblei Irrogularity in feeding occa-
sions direct loss of food aud an indirect
loss in the impaired health Of the horse.
1t is not q matter of Indifference how
horse stands in the stable. His legs arc
Of about equal length and he should there.
fore have floor nearly level, that the
weight Of his body may be uniformly dis
tributcd. This arrangement So obviously
required by regard to his health and COM
fort is violated by the construction Of floors
sloping from six to eight inches. The con-
sequence is that the horse is subjected to
a continual strain upon his fore feet, which
in time diminish their power. He knows
where the trouble is and speaks of it as we'll
as he can by bearing as much of his weight
as possible upon his hind toes. lie does
this to equalize the weight and to restore
the balance lost by the sloping floor. Level
floors may be constructed with deep grooves
to carry of the water. This should be re-
moved not only for cleanliness, but because
its accumulation in the bedding generates
ammonia, which is sait to be injurious to
the sight Let any Of US stand a long
time in a position that strains one set OF
the muscles Of the legs and We can then
imagine the effect Of slopiDg stall upon
the horse. Humanity and economy both
demand that VIC should make the horse as
comfortable as possible.
Another cause, and perhaps chief cause,
of the early failure of the horse is the treat
ment experienced by his feet. Anybody
with eyes can SEQ that horse naturally
elevates his fore toes to avoid distractions.
Why should his toe be pressed down and
out of lis proper position by tight heels to
h, shoe? Every body knows that the nat
ural tendency of the hoof is to expand. a
regard to that fact should prevent excessive
narrowing-iu Of the shoe. The effect is
somewhat similar to that occasioned by our
wearing tight shoes. l have heard that
the best farmers in England drive no nails
upon the inside heels of the fore feet; that
is, they nail the outside and just round the
toe, leaving the inside heel free to expand.
We know that three or four weeks will