Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-08-16
FEEDING HORSES.

FEEDING HORSES.
The vigor and duration of the horse de-
ponds much on proper feeding. Like the
cow and sheep, he may be made to slbsisG
on animal food. fish and almost every spe-
cies of nutritious vegetable. But his natu-
raj and proper aliment is the grasses, grain
and roots. In the middle and northern Sec
tons of this country his dry forage is al
most invariably good meadow hay, gener-
ally timothy, Which is the richest Of the cul-
tivatcd grasses. At the south, this is often
supplied by blades OF Indian corn. But in
all the States Il great variety of the grasses
and clover are used. t4 Il - at84H-4
When put to hard labor, grain ought al
ways to accompany hay in some. form.1s OF
the different kinds of grain, oats are pecul-
iarly the horses food, and they are always
safe, digestible and nutritive. Barley is the
best substitute for it, . Wheat and Indian
corn are sometimes given, but both are UNI
suitable ; the first is too concentrated, and
the last too heating. They ought to be
%spairingly used, and only when ground and
mixed with .chaff, The off;l of wheat is
never Objectionable. ID 349H 4qf .qs#.g $
Grain is always more advantageouslyI fed
when ground Or crushed, and wet some
time previous TO eating; and it is still bet
ter when cooked. On both sides Of the
Mediterranean, in the Barbary States, i'll
Spain, France and Italy, much of the food
is given iii small baked cakes-and the saw
ing i'll this way is much greater than the
expense of preparing it. g
When confined to dry foods, roots or APP
pies fed once a day are always beneficial.
They keep the bowels open, the appetite
and general health good, and contribute
largely to the nutrineht of. the animal,
Carrots arc the best of the roots, as. be-.
sides giving muscle and working power.
they, more than any others, improve the
wind and prevent all tendency to heaves.
They have even been found effectilal III re-
moving an obstinate cough. BY many
Keepers Of livery stables they are always
used, for Which purpose they command the
same price rs oats. Potatoes, 5parsilips,
beets and Swedish turliips, in the order
mentioned, are next to be preferred. pota-.
toes are improved by cooking. q NIte#z :,
Mixture of food or best, as Of cut hay,
meal and roots. Old horses, or such as are
put to hard labor, will do much better if
their food be given in the form easiest of di-
gestion. No inconsiderable part of the vi
talspower is exhausted by the digestion Of
dry, raw food. .5# a8#5 t9es 81 #t5 %
Horses ought to be fed, and, if possible,
exercised or worked regularly, but never
on a full stomach. This is a frequent cause
of disease, and especially of broken wind.
If their TODD is given ut the proper time, and
the horse be allowed to finish it at once.
without expecting more, he will lie down
quietly and digest it.. This will be much
more refreshing to him than to stand ut the
rack or trough nibbling continually at his
hay or oats. What rem aims after he is
done feeding. should be ut once withdrawn.
e They should have water in summer three
times, and In winter twice a day. Soft or
running water is the best. = While working.
ifthey are not too warm, they may have it
as often as they DESIRE Neither should
they be fed when heated, asitthe stomach is
then fatigued II slightly intiamed, and is