Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-30
Westminster Farmers Club.
THE FEEDING AND CARE OF THE HORSE

InlS ulScuSSloh was opened Dy MI.
Davis, who contended that the train
ing of the colt from infancy was a
most important point. He believed
the colt should be loose in the stall,
and compelled to take his food by
reaching up high, after it. In this
way he would by habit hold his head
high, and get that length, roundness,
and graceful curvature of neck, for
which horse is so highly priced
This point drew forth much discussion,
in which Mr.. Davis was assisted by
Mr. Pierce and others, while Messrs.
Arnold and Kimball, whose most ex-
cellent horses show mastery of the
art of feeding and care, were not dis
posed to attach much Importance to
the method. 1t was urged that habit
in all animals with care, produced
wonderful and permanent changes in
their organism. The hound by train
ing had been rendered more feet and
sagacious. The sheephad been raised
with more abundant and golden
fleece. The giraffe, by reaching up
ward for his food, had become more
upright and lofty in neck and stature.
Even man had progressed greatly ply
sically, perchance intellectually, from
the rude and imperfect condition of
primitive Adam. Even the reaching
up of Adam to pluck the fruit of the
forbidden tree, had not little infu-
ence, contrary to the common opinion
of the fall in giving him an upright
position W While the serpent became
prone. At all events, the theory that
the horse might get more graceful
curvature of the neck, and a perma-
nent habit of holding up its head by
reaching up for its food, is not an an
omaly in the improvement of domestic
animals.
On the other hand it was contend
ed that the data mi ght be at fault, that
animals, including man, might fall from
that grace and perfection of body with
which they were originally endowed,
and be brought back under the infu-
ence of climate, food and training, but
in regard to the horse. the great reli-
ance was to be placed upon the chOi-
cest selections, and a judicious system
of breeding. Like as most excellent
fruits-and grains have arisen from
repeated preparations and hybrid
zing, in which nature seems to have if
not a creative, yet perfectihg power
and an ability of acclimating, So ami
mails, especially the horse, by careful
breeding and crossing is produced
more graceful in form, and more agile
in movement. Mr.. Kimball fed his
horses in manger or box, even with
the ground, but SO that they could not
paw out the fodder. They would not
waste their food so easily. He did
not approve of racks. He feeds dry
food, oats, corn meal, flax-seed, oat
straw and hay, does not cut his hay or
straw, gives potatoes once or twice a
week. The quantity of food should
depend upon the animal and the work.
He does not believe in feeding horses
an extra allowance just before driving,
he would have them ready at anE time
to start; is not afraid to sweat them,
not even if the sweat is copious and
runs Of-when you stable them take
off your coat aud rub them we'll they
will come out all right. He waters
his horse but little at a time, vet of,
ten, while driving.
Mr.. Davis cuts feed for his horses.
and mixes meal and water with it,
would have mixture of corn, oats and
rye. The rye meal would make the
mixture stick to the hay. 1t takes
much less hay than it does to feed
separate. Mr.. Richardson raised the
question whether he got more nutri-
ment for the horse by mixing than by
feeding separate. Mr.. Davis said
more nutriment was extracted from
the mixture, as the hay being cut was
more easily and completely digested,
besides the horse would leave less
refuse to the hay. Mr.. Pierce said
if you place hay, meal, and water in
the manger the horse would mix them
in eating, thereby showing that it pre-
ferred them combined. Mr.. Davis
added upon this point that the feed
OF horses was apt to be too bulky
The horse would not travel so we'll
with distended stomach, and would
sweat more easily horses should
not sweat.
Maj. Page here gave an interesting
talk, how feeding of horses and oxen
was managed in olden times. He
would feed sprinkled with meal to
both working oxen and horses. 1t
would save much hay at less ex-
penSe OF grain. Cattle would work
more easily, would be kept in better
condition, and causing less distention
of body, this feed would tend to a
better frame both of the OK and horse
MIR. Arnold fed dry food, corn on
the ear, some oats, and did not groom
horse much. Careful use with
proper food and drink, did not re-
qulre that q horse should receive so
much rubbing. Mr.I. N. Farr thought
care was the great thing in making a
rnGd hnnoa Do <,o.-nf..I 10 Iced
and drive carefully, not overload nor
sweat the horse. Mr.. Roberts sug-
gested that farmers of Westminster.
in all these directions should practice
as we'll as preach.
d. G. Wright, who has span of
the oldest horses in town but still in
full strength and vigor for work, at
tested the benefit of careful treat.
ment and feeding. Hehad given his
horses cut feed for long time. Mr..
Pierce recommended carrots for hors-
es, while Mr.. Goodrich had fed horses
upon parsnips, and found that they
IL, e.