The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-02-28
The Horse Blanket.

ana OVerSnOeS, may De Il very gOOO lHlHS. |
It's value depends wholly on the intel
ligence and thoughtfulness of the man
who uses it. The season is at hand
when every humane man who moves his
horse faster than walk will see that
when his horse comes to the halt he is |
quickly covered with the blanket. lie
must not be 100 slow about getting the
blanket on after he has stopped. Blank
ct the horse first and hitch him after |
wards, is the safe rule. Foo many |
horses are injured by few minutes OF
neglect The farmer and his son may
drive free horse to the village IN the
face of keen northwester, and the
| horse, not much used, is free and enjoys
going under the influence OF the bracing
air. By the time he comes to halt at
the county seat or village rack he Is
we'll warmed up, not in lather perhaps
| but most at the throat latch and nank.
Perhaps this farmer don't believe In
blanketing horses, 'it's agin nature;
but the horse cools quickly and follows
the course of nature takes cold, and is
! off few days, or has an attack of rheu-
matism, or more likely lung fever.
"It's agin naturn to hitch a horse to
buggy and send him along the road,
| with a heavy load, urged by sharp
whip and dull driver. Horses in state
cf nature don't pull loads for miles at
heat, and then stop at a post and STAND
by the hour. When they warm up at
pIay or run with their mates they don't
come to standstill all at once. They
get there by easy stages, and before they
will be found standing stalk still they
will have cooled down while moving
} about gently This driver has violated
nature in taxing the powers OF MS nople
: horse, and now not only violates nature,
but decency and humanity, IN leaving
him unprotected against the cola Wlhu
5 or driving Storm 1t is the law OF nature
that an animal, wearied by prolonged
exertion. is too weak 10 resist cold OF
disease. The blanket is a human device
to assist the weary animals temperature.
3 And herein is the chief value OF the
l horse blanket. 1t is to be used like 9
: prudent farmer uses his own coat. tie
f don't want it on when he is at work
f but as soon as he stops, on WINDY
e March day, he is not going to stand long
e without Slipping it on. Should he OF
r caught warmed up and standing IN
l cold wind half hour or more by nelgh
. Dor, he will feel the effect OF it a week O
n perhaps for lifetime.
: Many a man and more horses ar
! ruined each year from cooling OIL to'
f suddenly after violent and prolonged eA
a ercise. A judicious use OF the overcoa q
e and horse blanket will give us 1eWer SUI
\ old farmers and thick WlDded hOrses
q q The farmers horse is not used for fas
q work and it is the exception now Whel
E, brought to a sweat and for that reasol
q he should be blanketed until he cool
down. The old farmer who sits day an
night with heavy overcoat on, ma.
IS think his idle, fat horses need blanke'
e mo in the stable. If his stable is ope
It as q rail fence, double blanket Nigh
6 do no harm. AS a rule, however, ol
4 horses need no blankets, except to pre-
e vent sudden chilling after exercise.
! good pair of blankets is cheaper than
II case Of Pneumonia, and wise use OF III
q horse blanket may prevent several case
n of that dreaded disease.
7 am sure the coats Of our horses ma
le be kept cleaner and softer by using
cheap blanket in the stable. It shoui
a be light and strong--just enough 70 kee
e. the dirt off. It will save time and IaDo
D. in groomiug, and yet the horse be kel
II in better condition. Where a duster
le worn in the stable the hair does not b'
ID come SO long, and the coat is more easil
IF cleaned after drive, and the hair beln
a shorter will not hold SO much persplrs
er tion. and the horse with a thick blankt
b. on standing out doors, will be more con
le Portable therefore. In this view II pay
st to have cheap, coarse blanket as du
IN fer and a warm one to be used Whe
a the horse stands after driving.
IL The average farmer will find 1t pay
to use horse blankets in the spring
in the wear. and most especially when u
~ horse begins to shed his coat, ana q
,I- chilling winds of March and April go
3 the marrow. IF, however, one uses
e. blanket, he must be regular and prom
Of about it.