The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-08
THE CARE OF HORSES.


Valuable Hiatt. Rr00peoa Auke BY Eeoo-
ony aaA Humanity.
A correspondent of the New York
Tribnse writes: have had the care of
horses for the last twenty-one years, and
never had one nck in all that time,
though l have had two die of old age, one
at q. There is no great secret in keeping
horse sound and we'll; and since the ad-
vent Of the horse-tamer and lecturer it IL
plainly to be seen that the number Of
stif'ed. spawned, ringboned ond diseased
horses is constantly 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
80 pampered is apt to get sick, and when
brought out Is easily heated and catches
cold; or is apt to be above his business
with heels higher than head. which Is
neither pleasant nor profitable, as a man
can keep his team feeling well without
feeding up all the coarse grain a common
farmer can raise. The requirements Of
nature are very simple and very easily
supplied, and consist chiefly in proper
feed. air and exercise, and regularity and
moderation in feeding And handling, the
two chief causes Of trouble being bad
management In the stable and hard driv-
ing and carelessuess on the road.
A horse should have a stable entirely
above ground. well lighted and well ven
tIlated. II Is next in Importance tina. he
be fed at certain regular hours; also that
he be not ted too much at once, a he
al, r.,1I s1a ont n
especially If not used. and be ready 10
grab at the next mess: 1t will do no harm
If the bunk is empty two or three houn.
more and do better than II the Manager Is
constantly crammed with that which has
been unused over: besides, the horse is not
kept stuffed all the time and his
wind Is better. Again, IT makes
great difference what a horse is fed.
Hay and oats alone will soon ruin some
horses, and hay should not be fed steadily
to any horse A safe system Of feeding in
winteris n follows: Hay in the morning,
and good bright corpstalks twice a day,
With few years Of corn morning and
night If not working. otherwise corn three
times a day, the ccrnstalks being just
losening enough TO counteract effects OF
the hay and keep the animal healthy. Oai
straw may be used in place Of the corn.
stalks, together: and then oats may be fed
in place OF the corn. II a horse is not be
ing used he should not stand in the stable
two days in succession. but on mild day,
should be let out in the yard for exercise q
few hours, or be hitched up and driven.
When the horse comes to be worked IN
the spring. the feed should be changed en-
tirely; but in changing feed always do II
gradually, and no harm will ensue
When working. the feed should consist Of
but hay. wettend and mixed with mca
made Of corn and oats IN equal part
ground together; and II is astonishing how
little feed of this kind will keep a hors,
good at hard labor; IT gaunts him, rs h
should be: he Is not stuffed with hay. m,
wind. or breathing power, is better, anc
he does not need to drink SO much water
As 10 watering, | have sand nothing, Al
the rules for that are so simple and so gen
orally understood that any man who vii
founder horse ought TO oe fined and i'm
| prisoned for cruelty 10 animals. IN regart
| TO the rearing and raising Of horses. ] VII
saw but little, being not an expert, though
! must have some useful knowledgr, an,
will simply add: In the management o
horse. bring into play all your skill ans
ingenuity. taking advantage Of you
knowledge Of the nature and disposition
Of the particular one with which YOU ar
dealing, which knowledge you will Obtain
by observation mo two requiring the SAM
treatment). and thus avoid the n"cessit,
Of ruling by brute force.