The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-02-15
Care Of Horses.

To 60 fully into this subject would re-
quire whole volume, yet few hints
may be useful to some of our readers
Those persons who are constantly taking
care of horses are generally faithful and
intelligent, and manage we'll. The horse
is most neglected by the farmer, who, in
the winter, has but little for him to do,
and spends but little time-often too
little-in taking care of him.
The standing of the horse is too much
neglected, or this subject Is not judiciously
managed either by the professional groom
or the farmer. The horse Is often allowed
to stand In the stable on the hard floor,
with his fore feet considerably higher than
his hind ones, constantly straining his
muscles. The floor on which horses
stand should only slant one or one and a
half inches in eight or nine feet-barely
enough to conduct off the liquid minure.
Some farmers turn their horses into a
pen, and let them stand as they please.
This Is good arrangement, 40 they can
move about, and stand at ease, and by
standing on the manure, which is soft and
moist to their feet, they are much less
liable to injury to the feet than horses that
stand on the floors. BY this arrangement,
a horse Eay eat from a ough on
the barn floor, SO as to breathe freely
of pure air. But with this plan it Is
necessary to level the manure fire.
Quently where the horse stands to
eat, else it will accumulate under his
hind feet and give him an uneasy position.
Horses should be curried and brushed
down daily. This is as necessary as it is
for person to wash his face and hands
daily. 1t is not only necessary to COM
fort, but to permanent health. Horses
should have q good supply of fresh water.
Farmers often consult their own con.
venience in supplying this. to the serious
injury of their horses. The animal comes
home rather late in the evening, warm,
and perhaps sweaty, and in that c0ndi-
ton he is supplied with water, as the hour
for retiring for the night is at hand, and
to water the horse as the saying is, after
he has become cool, would be very in
convenient. To avoid SO great an evil as
giving cold water to warm horse in
winter, when his labor is over, give him
water when he is about to return, if con-
venient; if not, wait until the horse has
become cool after returning home, and
turn him to the water-or, if not con.
venient, carry some to the stable. If a
little hot water can be added to the cold,
he may have drink without waiting; or
moistened food may be given to him so
that water will not be necessary.
There is one thing in which many farm
ers are negligent in the care Of their
horses. They feed their whole stock
early in the evening, and they do not 70
to the barn again for the night. When
the horse has eaten his supper of the dry
fodder, he is very thirsty, but he has no
drink, and suffers for want of it. The
next morning his thirst has abated, by an
equalization of moisture in the system,
and he has become hungry. and is look
ing for his breakfast, SO he will not drink
in the morning though water is offered
1t is but little trouble to turn the horse to
water about nine O'Clock in the evening,
and it should be attended to. If the food
he cut and mOistened, as now practiced by
many, it will be in great measure rem
edy for the evil.
When the horse is out, keep him well
covered while standing in the cold,
especially after hard driving, or when
warm, and put a blanket on him on be-
ing put in the stable when sweating.
Never wash q horses legs in cold water
when he is warm, not even in hot wealth.
er. Cold water may be used for inflam-
nations, but only when the horse is still
and cOol.-FGr,nery' Home Journal.