The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1869-07-09
From The New Bingham, Farmer
Dura bilitv OF Horses.

Durability OF Horses.
Perhaps One of the most importan
changes which Indicate progress agrcul
ture. is the longer duration Of some O
our domestic animals. Fifty years agv
ii was thought thar a COW that haC
reached eight years had passed into old
age. and must be turned 10 beet. 80 i
horse had got into his teens he could
not eat well. or ii lie could. he had pass
ed the perion when his services could be
made profitable and the conclusion was.
that the poor old horse must die.
As COW does not come 10 her full,
power Of production untii she is six
or seven years old. and as there are three
of these wears when she does not paw for
her keeping. the whole productive time
OF her lie Is reduced 10 some four or
five years, If she is turned off at eight.
A horse should never be put 10 full
labor until he has reached the are OF
eight wears lie may do little light
labor every day after attaining the age
OF three years, and when past four. do
much more than enough TO pay the cost
OF keeping. But it is neither profitable
nor expedient in any way TO put him 10
steady labor OH the road or on the farm,
until he has reached the age of eight
years. The first three years OF his life
ought to be a bill of cost. if he is TO be
sound to start with. and is expected to
endure until he is twenty-five to thirty
years of age.
A large number of all New England
horses are spoiled before they are three
years old. eithe by mistaken notions in
feeding, by too quick movements on the
road, or by too heavy loads on the farm.
IT in feeding, it is by one Of two ex-
tremes-neglecting the medium course.
and feedidg high with too stimulating
food. OF too low, wit damaged or innu-
tritious hay. Clean. sweet fodder. regu-
larity in feeding. and. cleanliness and
proper ventilation in the stalls. are alb
solutely essential in securing soundness
III horse. When these are observed. I
and the horse is properly managed in
working him he will endure from twen-
ty-five to thirty years and prove faith
ful profitable servant. We have heard
of instances where the have continued
sound and serviceable mach longer than
that.
We know Of horses now. that have
been out OF their "teens" more than ten
years, that are smooth and entirely sound
in wind and limb. They are in daily
use, are strong, and if remaining idle
day or two. come from their stalls as
gay as lark" 1t is real pleasure to
hold the reins behind such animals, be-
cause they are old acquaintance, are long
and well-tried servants. and one feels
safe himself, and feels that his family is
safe, in driving them.
The complicated structure of the horse,
and the artificial life which he lives, are
matters which every good master will
consider. In natural state he would
rarely, if ever, indulge in an exercise .
which would cause the perspiration to
drip from his sides or trickle down his :
launches. But this is no unusual occur
renee under our hands, and too often
when he is in this condition, he is made
to stand still, uncovered, in a cutting,
blast that penetrates to the very bones.
checking the healthy action of the skin.
stopping the pores, and thus inducing !.
disease in one form or another.
On the farm, he is often treated withIi
the same culpable negligence. He is :
greatly overloaded, and after taxing all a
his powers to take the load to its desti- I
nation, stands, uncovered, in the cold !
north wind until the load is discharged. b
ms process goes on through the day,
or for many days; heating and suddenly
cooling the system, until the animal pow
ers are SO weakened that fevers, cramps.
catarrhs, or permanent colds and coughs
are seated so as never to be removed l.
No wonder that eight out Of every ten
horses that pass us are lame or diseased
in some way. A sudden cold applied to
the skin often brings on arrangement
of the functions of the system which .
ends in what is called surfeit.
AS there must be several years in the
life OF horse when he viii be an ex-
pense to his owner, it ia desirable that I
his usefulness be continued at az late ali
period possible. This may be done bv L
observing the foregoing suggestions, and