Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-10-30
farmers 1epartmept.
How to Feed Horses.

Since we commenced the publication of the
rIoughman We have more than once called the
attention of The pablie to the Importance OF
feeding horses in proper manner-cspecially
when on Journey. And we have reason to
think that these hints have not been slightcd.
for we have seen them copied into numerous
papers, and we now hear less complaint for
want of proper feeding than We did twenty
years ago.
Horses on Journey require more attention
than those employed fgr draft on a farm, and
more ,han such ia are used in trucks and drayS
in cities, for it is fast driving which exposes
them to- the severest tests and therefore hor
ses that ave aSed principally for light carriages
on the highways are worn out much sooner than
farm horses.
The times of feeding horses which are ex
rccted to travel fast on the highways, are quite
q important. One good rule is never to give
them hearty food just before starting. Many
stage horses have dropped dead in the high
ways merely on account of eating too hearty
food before starting ON a journey.
1t was once rule never to feed with grain
of any kind when the horse was warm and had
performed his days work but now we hear
very little of this rule, as ten horses are found
to die Suddenly in consequence of hard driving
soon after eating grain, where one has failt d
by having grain given him soon after his work
was done, and while he was yet warm and
sweaty.
The reason Of this difference is very plain,
MS soon as you reflect on it, and compare the
condition of the horse With your Own Let
any man eat a hearty dinner and then run
u smart race-Let him chase the cows from
the meadow, the sheep from the eern," and he
will experience pain similar to that which
seems to exercise the horse, and should he be
forced, as The horse often is, TO continue on in
spite Of his disease. he would drop down and
expire for the same cause.
The truth seems to be that ma ture should be
consulted in all such cases and nature indi-
Gates that rest after eating is more important
than at any time. MI aye ineAeato rest and
sleep soon after eating hearty food, aneA a pen
ATTY is attached to a violation of this natural
rule Rest is required in order that the food
may have a opportunity to digest ; but violent
exercise arrests the process of digestion.
The experiment has been fully tried on dogs
That have been full fed Those that hare been
et ont to- parsae tho chase have been found,
Oh opening, to have the food whole in their
stomachs at the end of three or four hours
oil the food which they had eaten.
From these facts it is clear that horses should
not have their most hearty food Immediately
before starting in q stage or chase where rapid
travelling is expected. Let them have the
principal part of their grain at nTght, after the
days work is over.
In regard to the old objection, that horses
must not have grain when they are warm, We
have no faith in H. We have never yet had
good evidence that a. horse has suffered merely
from eating his accustomed quantity of grain
while he was warm, or even in state of perS-
pratien-
On journey, therefore, let your hoses hare
their grain at night, when they have time to
digest it, and they will be ready to start early
IN the morning-before breakfast if you choose
and travel without injury. When you have
horses that have long been used to- grain, you
may ordeE half bushef Of oats to each horse,
and you may put these into the manger as soon
as you please after your horses are put into
the stable We have often done this on long
cal mode OF travelling
When on q journey, you are not certain that
the hay is good, and if YOU rely principally up
on hay, in what condition can you expect to-
find your team in the morning? But oats are
generally Of such, a gpality that hungry horses
1ll eat enough to sustain themselves. They
will fill their stomaeha> sasly in'the evening
and then lie down and rest, when their food
may be properly digeStcd In this, case they
need no extra stuffing with grain just before
starting in the morning.-Plouman.