The Columbus journal., 1879-05-14
The Care of Horses.

h"'S hou tue CdIc VI UOrSeS LOT
the past twenty-one years, and never
had one sick in all that time, though
L have had two die of old age,
one ut twent y-eight. There is no
great secret in keeping a horse
sound and well; and since the
advent of the horse-tamer and lec-
turer ii is plainly to be seen that
The number of stifled, spawned,
ringboned and diseased horses is
growing less, but there is still room
for great Improvement. Some
farmers make great mistake in
feeding too much grain, keeping in
close, warm stables, blanketing, etc.
A horse so pampered is apt to get
sick, and when brought out is easily
heated, catches cold ; or else is apt to
be above his business with his heels
higher than head, which is neither
pleasant nor profitable, as man can
keep his team feeding up all the
coarse grain a common farmer can
raise. The requirements Of nature
are very simple and very easily sup
piled, and consist chiefly in proper
feed, air and exercise, and regulari-
ty and moderation i'm feeding and
handling, the two chief causes of
trouble being bad management i'm
the stable and hard driving and care
lessHess on the road.
A horse should have a stable
above ground, well lighted
and well ventilated. 1t is next i'm
Importance that he be fed at certain
regular hours; also that he be not
fed too much at once, as he should
clean out the manger every time.
if not used, and be ready
TO grab at the next mess it will do
no harm if the bunk is empty two
Or three hours. Horses fed i'm this
way will really eat more and do
better than if the manger is constant
y crammed with that which has
been mussed over; besides, the horse
s not kept stuffed all the time and
lis wind is better. Again, it makes
great difference what a horse is fed.
lay and oats alone will soon rum
ONE horses, and hay should not be
ed steadily to any horse. A safe
ystem of feeding in winter is as.fol-
ows: Hay in the morning, and
ood bright cornstalk twice a day,
With few ears of corn morning and
light if not working, otherwise corn
hree times a day, the cornstalks
eing just loosening enough to coun-
eract the effects of the hay keep the
nimal healthy. Oat straw may be
sed in place of the cornstalks, or
ogether; and then oats may be fed
4 place of the corn. Ifa horse is
OF being used he should not stand
the stable two days in succession,
ut on mild days should be let out
the yard for exercise q few hours,
be hitched up and driven.
When the horse comes to be
orked in the spring, the feed !
lould be changed entirely; but in
ranging feed always do it gradual
:, Snd no harm will ensue. When
orking, the feed should consist of
~, wetted and mixed with meal
ade of corn and oats in equal parts
'ound together; and it is astonish-
g how little feed of this kind will
eep a horse good at hard labor /; it
lunts him, as he should be; lie is I
1t stuffed with hay, his wind or
eathing power, is better, and he
'es not need to drink so much o
ater. As TO watering, l have said
thing, as the rules for that are so
nple and so generally understood
ut any man who will founder a =
rse ought to be fined and impris- 4
ed for cruelty 10 animals. In re- \
rd to the rearing and raising of
rses, | will say but little, being Sc
t an expert, though must have n
ne useful kno wledge, and will &C
nply add: In the management of y, y,
lorse, bring into play all your skill 81
ingenuity taking advantage of nc
lr knowledge of the nature and d.
position of the particular one with IA IA
ich you are dealing, which Y,