Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-09
miscellaneous.
CARE OF HORSES.
ADVICE TO OWNERS AND DRIVERS or
DRAteHT HORSES.

1. Let your stable be light, we'll ven-
tilated and well drained; darkness is fire.
quently productive of blindness, and a
damp, poorly-ventilated stable is the cause
of rheumatism, coughs, colds, CHAMBERS,
and other diseases among horses.
2. IL possible. have your stall at least
six feet wide and nine feet long, as your
horse can then turn around or lie down
comfortably. Have the floor level. as
standing on an incline will strain and
weaken the cords of the leg, thus produc-
ing lameness.
3. In loading. consider well the dis
lance to he travelled, and the condition of
the roads. and nerer orerload. as by so do
ing you will not only distress. discourage.
and strain your horse, but you will infict
pecaniary injury upon yourself; if your
load is hard to draw, make frequent stops
and give the horse opportunity to recover
his wind, and for the same reason, always
block your wheels when you stop while
going up hill if the vehicle is heavily
loaded cart. prop the shafts, as this takes
the weight from his back and relieves him
very much never stop long in cold or
stormy weather without blanketing him,
and see that your wheels are kept proper
ly creased. as dry axle will vastly in
crease his labor.
4. Should he meet with accidental in
Jury or become sick, consult a competent
veterinary at once, and in no case permit
an inexperienced person to administer
drugs.
5. Never permit any one to tease or
tickle your horse, as vicious habits are
thus easily induced.
g. Keep your harness soft and clean,
particularly the inside of the collar and
saddle, as the perspiration, if allowed to
dry in, will cause irritation and produce
gals.
Z. The collar should fit closely, with
sufficient space at the bottom to admit
your hand; a collar too small obstructs
the breathing, while one too large will
cramp and draw the shoulders into an I'M
natural position, thus obstructing the cir
culation.
8. Buckle the names tight at the top so
as to give the collar an even bearing; it
will also bring the draught irons near the
centre. and thus permit free action of the
shoulders.
9. Do not buckle the girt too tight. par
ticularly on string team. as when the
traces are Strengthened it will draw the
girt against the body and distress the horse.
10. See that he is kept well shod with a
stiff shoe calked at toe and heel on the
hind feet, as from them comes the propelling
power; and do not permit the farrier to
weaken the feet by cutting away too much
of the wall of the foot, the sole, or the
frog.
II. Shoes should be removed or changed
every three or four weeks.
~. The front of the hoof should never
be rasped. Because rasping removes the
outer smooth, hard fibres. and makes the
hoof brittle and deformed.
ID. Never have your horse S heels close
~ trimmed, nor the hair cut from the in
side of his ears. Because trimming leads
to Inflammation of the skin, and causes
sore heels; the latter keeps the ear warm,
and prevents the entrance into it of dust,
particles Of foreign matter, and deafness.
a. Never allow your horse to stand on
hot, fermenting manure, as it will soften
the hoofs and bring on diseases of the feet
nor permit the old litter to lie under the
manger, as the gases will faint his food,
and iritate his lungs as well as his eyes.
Is. DO not keep the hay over the stable,
as the gases from the manure and the
breath of the animal will make it unwhole-
some.
16. When practicable, clean the horse
outside the stable, because the dust fouls
the crib and makes him loathe his food.
IL. A hay-rack placed above the horse s
head is not recommended. Horses feed
naturally on the ground.
IL See that your horse Is well cleaned
every morning, and on his return to the
stable at night; if .iaded and tired. give
him thorough grooming, rubbing his
legs by hand look well also to his feet, as
he may have picked up a nail or stone
and standing on either would produce
lameness; provide him with abundant
clean, well-aired bedding, and in cold
weather blanket him comfortably in the
stall.
10. Use the curry-comb lightly. To
fine-skinned horses 1t should never be ap-
piled.
90 Use neither binders nor martin
gale they are not only needless, but more
or less cruel. and while the former is fire.
quently productive of blindness, the latter
confines the head in painful, constrained
position, preventing an easy and natural
action. Where binders have always been
used, caution and sound Judgment must be
used in gradually accustomiRg your horse
to do without them.
81. Never use check-rein, unless so
long that the horse can have the free use
of his head going up hill, and never wind
it around the names.
%. Horses should not all be fed in the
same proportion. but with due regard to
their ages. their constitutions, and their
work. When horse is worked hard its
food should chiefly be oats or cracked corn
and oats, with good English hay potatoes
or carrots may he given once or twice a
week. and lump Of rock salt should al
ways be LEFT in the Manager. Use no musty
hay or damaged grain, as neither furnishes
proper nourishment, and the latter il liza
BILE to produce inflammation of the bowels
and kidneys.
Is. DO not urge the animal to drink
water which he refuses Because II is
hard and unwholesome.
"a. Never keep dead pull on the mouth
of your horse, and in no case, Jerk or saw
on the reins.
rs. Let the heels be well brushed out
every night. Because dirt, if allowed to
cake in, causes Grease and Sore Heels.
Is. Kindness will do more than brutal.