, 1864-01-02
The Care Of Horses.

Some persons, in their anxiety to sub.
due their horses, take every opportunity to
worry and beat them, "to let the beast
know who is MASTER" they say. They
whip, scold, and beat them on principle.
Now, who does not know that such treat.
ment addressed to a child, with the idea
of subduing him, would inevitably sour
his temper, and render him disobedient and
obstinatea As certainly will this be the
case in the discipline of domestic animal.
Instead Of this, it should bo our aim to
let the horse know and feel that we are
friendly to him and desire his well.being.
This may show itself by avoiding whatever
will tend to annoy and provoke him, by
kindness in the tone Of voice, in tho way
of handling him, and by various unmen-
tionable things which will at once occur to
those familiar with this noble an NAL. He
will understand their meaning, and they
will affect his character. A horse so treat
ed will be pleasant beast to handle, he
will keep and fatten better, will be in bet.
ter health, and will do more work than one
managed differently. This should be done
from the animals earliest years, but even
IL neglected while young, the horse may
thus be taught to love his master.
Regularity and system.-This will show
itself in determining the time and amount
of feeding and Of working. Nearly oil
the diseases to which the horse is subject,
come from irregularity in these respects.
If no is under.fed and over.worked, the
tone of his system will become relaxed,
and disease be likely to set In. So if he
is over.fed, and has deficient or irregular
exercise, he will contract another set Of
diseases. The man who Is regular and
systematic in his own habits Of living, is
most likely to enjoy health and long life,
while he who INDUCES in excesses Of any
kind is sure to suffer from frequent and
violent attacks Of illness, and end his days
prematurely. 1t is hardly less so with
mIn's favorite animal, the horse
Change Of diet, cleanliness, and good
shelter should not be overlooked. For
the horse running at large, as IN the wild
state, the diet which nature gives him is all.
sufficient, but for one confined, stabbed and
worked, much attention should be given ia
us AOOus AAoy uuu OobS utO uOuuIlcoo tue
best food, all things considered, but even
these should have an occasional variation
Carrots, potatoes, bran, fresh cut grass,
should be given him in their place and
time. During Summer it seems only sim
pie justice that, when practicable, the
horse should be treated for time to that
food which is most natural to him-fresh
grass. If every stabbed, Woodworking
horse could have o summer vacation ol
several weeks in pasture, Il would soften
his dry and cracked hoofs, correct his d.
gestion, improve his wind, his skin, and
indeed renovate his entire system. But
where this indulgence cannot be enjoyed, q
horse should have frequent masses Of loos-
ening food, such as roots, bran mashes
with cut straw, fresh grass, etc.
As TO cleanliness, both good looks and
health demand this. A horse well curried
will make peck Of oats 60 much further
than one ungroOmed. Good shelter saves
many horse from taking cold when com
ing in from work, and adds much to his
health and daily comfort.