The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-11-25
iI0rseSs
From the Banner of the South and Planters
journal.

From the Banner of the South and Planters
Journal.
l., 1t is a very easy matter to let a
horse be seriously injured il not to-
tally ruined; and it is no difficult
matter to keep him il a sound con
dition. Irregular feeding and wa
tering, are often attended with
serious consequences, especially if a
horse is at hard daily labor. In hot
weather he should have water not
less than six times per day. lie
will then not take too much at d
time and will be refreshed for his
work. No horse can do without
water from the early morn until the
feeding time at the middle Of the
day, or from two o'clock until the
close OF the day, in the hot seasons,
without some impairment OF his
health and vigor. Hence by this
neglect he becomes .jaded and brok-
ell down. Six quarts, Of corn, if
divided and fed at three several
times, will do more to keep up a
horses strength than eight quarts
Of feed twice a day at long intervals.
If a man fails to get his dinner and
iabors hard during the afternoon,
he will become twice as much ,jaded
as if he had taken it. 1t is so with
a horse, OF any other working ami
NAL. When in good order, and
regularly fed, watered and curried,
a horse may even be pushed i'll his
work. This cannot be done if, in
these essential particulars, he is
neglected.
1t often happens that a horse
fails when the owner supposes that
he has fulfilled every requisite to
sustain him. He was we'll watered,
fed and rubbed down, with remark
able regularity. Perhaps the tod-
der, or hay, was detective; parts Of
it may have been decayed or moul-
dy, perhaps the corn was damaged,
defective corn will soon kill a horse;
perhaps he was over driven; per
haps the stable was too close and
hot; horses will suffer in closely
weather boarded, or brick stables,
not properly ventilated. But it
may appear that none Of these con
ditions existed. 1t is well then to
enquire as to quantity. Perhaps
the rack is always full Of hay, or
fodder. No horse, that ever exis-
ted, will be in right condition for
driving, blowing or hauling, whose
rack is always thus supplied. He
should have no more than he will
eat clean. Horses are also grain
killed, as farmers term it. If a
horse is led from the stable, with
uneaten corn in his manger, after
being allowed ample time to con
sumo it, he is in a fair way to be-
come grain-kilIed. Too much grain
over heats and inhamcs the stomach
the horse becomes dull and stupid,
looks sleepy about the eyes, becomes
gaunt, with dry hair, tight dry skin,
and is soon unfit for any hard ser
vice. Hence the plan of keeping
the rack full of fodder and the
trough full Of corn is q dangerous
one. But again, the quantity may
be right and yet the horse seems
to suffer. This would Indicate the
necessity Of a change of food. If
the horse had been fed chiefly on
hay, or fodder and corn, oats should
be subtituted for the corn. 1t is
d conceded fact, by those best &C
quainted with the management Of
horses, that oats supply more hour
ishment and discriminating material
than any other kind of food. The
oa:s should be sound and good. A
peck and a half a day, with fifteen
pounds of good hay, or ten pounds
of good fodder, will answer for a
saddle or buggy horse, but a horse
at the dray, or plough, Oh that
works hard in any way, a peck at
the other two feelings will be re-
quired. AS a substitute, oats and
corn, q parts of the first to one of
the latter will be an excellent food.
Another good substitute consists of
barley oats and corn, in equal pro-
portions, ground. Some diminish
the quantity of grains and increase
that of the hay and fodder. This
is a dangerous policy: rather in
crease the grain and diminish the
other. A horse cannot work hard
on hay and fodder, besides they
press upon the lungs and injure
them. This is a fruitful source of
the heaves. When a horse refuses
his food, at any meal, it is a proof
of his being sick, or.jaded, and he
should not be worked until his appe-
tite returns which will be at the
next feed time unless he is seriously
affected. The loss Of a horse is
often q very serious matter. Some
lack the means to supply his place.
Hence all necessary care should be
taken to prevent accidents aud pre-
serve his health. -.
AS collie is of frequent occurrence,
remedies should always beat hand.
Those who have preserved their
copies of this Journal, will find in
its columns numerous recipes for
collie, heaves, scratches, founder Sc.
We append two or three. a.as
For Collie No. 1.-Dissolve one
pint of salt in q pint~of hot water
then add a quart of good vinegar
and pour half the mixture<dowp the