Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-02-22
[WHOLE NO. 27O.
Care Of Horses in Winter.


er carolessness in regard to the treatment
OF horses in tho trying and changeable
season through which we are now passing.
II is no wonder that there are so few real.
ly sound and healthy horses when 80 little
attention Is paid 10 the general care OF
them. and especially to protecting them
against the effects Of the exposures TO
which they are necessarily subjected. II
is not only the mcrciful man, but the wise
man also, who il nerciful 10 bis beast
The following suggestions are taken from
tho American Sock Journal
FSeding.---A hortes food can never be
exactly measured fer him. Some times
hc needs moro than st other times. Give
him as much "a hs needs, and exerciss
judgment In reg,rd % the natter. AT all
times give as much bright hay. as your
horse can eat. Iftho weather Is very cold.
tho horse needs heat-producing material,
and corn Is as good ss you can give
Grind II aud feed wet, aud mix with
little cut hay or bright straw. When Il
Is warm, oats Is the best Of grim Cor hors.
es, and iof1aborng horses nothing Is "a.
porior TO them. Oats arc TO the horse
what steak ID 10 the laboring man; they
furnish the material for muscle.
Dsfnkiag.-Do net allow him to drink
very large quantities Of ice.cold water at
once. Moderately warm water is the bost
Tor animals, but large quantity of very
cold water isiujurious. Especially i this
tho case whom they do not have moderate
exercise immediately after drinking, or
when the horse Is warm or much wearicd
by hard labor.
Grooming Allhorsos should be groom.
ed every morning when stabbed. A good
grooming isworth as muchaas half peek
OF oats. Every barn should be supplied
with good curry-comb, card, comb Cor
name and tail, brush aud stiff broom. 1t
keeps tho circulation vigorous, the skin
clean aud in good condition. to withstand
both heat and cold, aud makes the hcrso
look very much better. An ungroomed
horse is like an unwashed boy, OF person
who never attends Ia his toilet. - .s
1t is a question with some whether the
horse should be blanketod in winter. If
the stable is good one, and sufficiently
warm, we should not use ethe blanket, cx-
cept when the horse is out of doors, or
has been subjected TO severe labor or ex.
posure. flgee.
heep fAe .SaJles Cieaa.--Always clean
out the droppiDgs Of your horses both
morning aud evening. They ought to be
removed so far fron the stable that the
air will not be poisoned by the emanations
from them. We have always thought the
practice Of throwing tho manure into a
heap by the side of the born door. SLOW
enly, wasteful and detrimental to the health
Of the horse. With broom sweep out
all the dust that accumulates daily.
Shoeiag.-During the Winter months,
horses which labor should be we'll shod.
Unless, however, they are to be driven in
such places as render them very liable TO
slip, the corks should not be very sharp
When horse is newly shod, be little
careful when you drive him, especially if
he feels we'll. or he may cork himself.
Like men it takes few days for them to
become accustomed to handling their feet
with new shoes.
The following hints are taken from the
Rural AmcricdM
@'N'Nt AoSN EtatH ot EANt MdAtt W
horse when warm from exercise. Sweat
is not always sign of warmth; place the
hand on the chest for test. Water eiv-
en- after meal is safer than to give il bo.
fore.
Never drive fast or draw them hard i'm
mediately after giving food and drink.
Never drive faster than walk with
heavy loads.
DO not let horse. stand long IN. the sta
BILE II any time of year, without oxcrcis-
ing.
Feed regularly, and in quantity az
cording TO the appetite OF the animal and |
the labor it performs.
Do rsot drive or work long in storms.
DO not let the horses stand in the sta
bic cascd in boots Of dry mud, and coats
of matted hair. Groom them.
At all times of the year make your I
horses comfortable when tied in the sta
bic. They cannot help themselves there. I
Learn your horses to trust and have
confidence in you, rather than fear.