The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-04-16

The improvement OF the Horse.

"Diomede, !" in the Turf, Field and Farm,
has this to say of the breeding of horses.
Horsemcn will recognize the author as
man of experience, and accept his sugges-
tions as of unusual value:
To improve the horse is to'avail ourselves
of the experience of mankind. The art of
breeding consists in using the disceveriesof'
the world. Science has unfolded the laws
of nature, and separated for our use the
constituents of animal matter. 1t has
taught us the elements that enter into the
blood, and their effect upon the composition
of bone and muscle. The quality eftlie food
that enters into the mass Of living matter
affects its substance. Good, nutritious
food will produce fine, porous flesh, and
superior bone and muscle. The converse of
the proposition is equally true, that coarse
food will produce course flesh and spongy
bones, with soft muscles.
The character and condition ofthe colt is
determined by the food he eats. The SOL
vents deposited in the blood decompose to
form flesh and bone. If we commence with
good breed, we can determine from the
start what will be the character Of the ma
tured horse. Nature does net permit vio-
lent changes, but the hardy condition ofthe
equine race must be established by the
salts of the earth that enter into blood to
feed the living matter. The writer of this
article has tested the value of>food by sew
eral experiments. He has take,a two colts
of equal merit, raised one upon good hay
and grass, with plenty of grain and the
other was fed upon poor hay and coarse
food, upon the starving system. The for
mer proved a valuable horse; the latter
matured late and was below mediocrity.
| It is notorious tact that the starveGng,
once reduced to great physical debility,
viii seldom recover to be of much value in
after years. The starving system destroys
many of the good qualities in the family,
and degenerates the breed. Oats are the
best grain to feed colts, because they con-
tain more of the bone and-muscle-
material than is found in the other cereals.
Hay, from the nutritious grasses, well cured
resupplies the natural waste of the body
with the vital elements that develop bone
and muscle. Bran, as an Alternative, from
its cooling effects, is necessary as change
OF food to counteract the stimulants OF
over-heating corn. Green grass will cleanse
disease, and develop the frame faster than
any less succulent vegetation. Ont feed
is wholesome and cheap diet. 1t relieves
heaves, clears the wind, and saves large
per cent, in the cost of food. Regularity
in feeding OF appropriate hours Is essential
in stable economy. The horse digests hi:
food rapidly, and the stomach Graves re
supply. Stables well ventilated with pure
air are as essential to the horse as the food
he eats Air and light are the great health
invigorators Of tile horse Blindness, CLAN
ders, farcy, and other contagious diseases
are the consequence Of impure air from
dark ill-ventilared stables.
i The sun is as natural to the horse as thl
air he breathes. II he can be permitted Il
enjoy the sunshine and the shower it will
prove luxury, and prevent some of til,
diseases that horse flesh Is heir to. Exercis,
in the open air will give strength and goot
wind, which are indispensable ogreatspeet
and endurance, If the horse should be re
quired to perform great tasks, he shoule
first be prepared with proper food and ex
ercise. His condition must correspond t.
the labor required. BY hardening thu
muscles and refining the wind, he will
perform vast services without injury.
Sound parents are the only safe horses :,
breed from. 1t is well known that man,
diseases are hereditary, and descend to tn
offspring. Colts inheriting blemish tina
amounts to unsoundness are not worth tn
expense ofraising. 1t would cost less to rails
Kentucky or Dexter than it would to rails
worthless cripple. The loss of labor an,
capital makes it a poor economy to rails
an unsound or an inferior animal. TIL
! horse that can perform twice as much ser
vice as another 10 worth more than double