Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-08-06
AGRICULTURAL.
Facts and Suggestions in regard to
Care Of H0rSes.

There are things about the feeding, care and
management of horses, which would at once be
acknowledged in words, while in deeds these
very methods of management are treated with
utter neglect. To aid in banishing this perni-
eious inconsistency; to assist in making the care
and management Of horses more as they should
be; 10 contribute to making both horses and
their owners more generally share in the bene-
fetal consequences which always fellow from
obedience to the requirements Of right and rea
son, submit q few suggestions, not so much
with the intention of furnishing new informa-
tion, as Of calling 70 remembrance aud giving
fresh force to truths already known.
There is no better guide to the right man
agement of horses or any other domestic ami
mails, than to cultivate the disposition, and to
be faithful to the DUTY of treating them in eve-
ry respect as the owner would like to be treat
ed, if he were horse, or any other Of the crea-
lures committed to his care. Such manage
ment, if there be ordinary knowledge and good
judgment, will be just what will contribute
most cffectually 10 the comfort as we'll as the
health of the animal, and to the preservation
of it in that condition in which it will be use
ful fer any Of the purposes for which it may be
kept. Regularity in feeding; change and va
ricty in the food supplied; moderate hours Of
working; good shelter, and several other things
would be effectually secured, if the guide to
good management which has been mentioned
were more generally adopted. And ii may be
confidently affirmed that the owner would be
benefited by It fully as much as the animals of
which he had care. liz would, at least, be in
great measure exempt from these troubles
and losses which proceed from disease and
death among his stock. Most attacks Of dis
ease in horse for example, proceed from ir-
regular or improper feeding over working, or
something else which reduces the vital powers
for the time being, or che general condition of
the horse for a longer period. A horse in
low condition is certainly more liable to attacks
Of dissase, especially when suddenly subjected
to hard work, even though it should have at
tho same time higher feeding.
One objection to the otherwise excellent
practice Of cutting hay, stalks, straw, &c, is
that it does not give the horse or Gov, &C., a
fair chance for rejecting such parts as may be
smusty or otherwise injured and unfit for food
Care should be taken shat nothing is ever used
either cut or uncut, which has been injured by
mildew, heating, too much exposure, or in any
other way To fordnhorses to consume hay,
straw or other fodder, which has been damaged
by cutting and mixing it with more paIatablc
food as meal, &c, is at once cruelty and poor
economy, for disease or loss is not an improba-
bic consequence.
Carrots are more profitable to horse thau
any other kind OF root. A pretty accurate
observation has established it as settled fact,
that mixture Of two parts of oats with one
part Of carrots, or two feeds Of grain and one
feed Of carrots in a day, will keep horse ia
better condition than when grain alone IS used
Few, comparatively, use carrots, notwithstand-
ing that their excellence is generally admit
ted.
Very few seem to be aware of one disadyan-
tage of grinding grain for horse feed: namely,
its tendency to heat and become mouldy or
tainted. Grain ground into meal has several
advantages above that which is uuground; but
ii is liable to this one objection. To obviate it
let hemeal be watched and stirred and spread
when heating or mouldiness threatens; and, what
is still better, let only small quantity be
ground at once Cor. Scientifc .7mericaa.