The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-01-05
Management Of Farm Horses DurinA
Winter.

tnat 1arm nOr3eS Shall DC At all seasons
kept in proper u ate for the work they
have to do, and at the same time render
them less liable to disease. we believe
that few remarks on the winter treat
ment of this indispensable class of ami
mails will be of q reasonable nature al
the present time. We must observe
that, If we are to Judge by the appear.
ance of a lars proportion Of the farm.
ers' horses it would seem that neither
in style nor condition are many of these
suited for the work of the farmer, pro
vided it is done as it should be. Light.
shambling nags are not exactly the
kind TO turn up good. broad-should-
cred furrow to the action of the win
ter's frost nor is their unkempt appear
ance proof that their owners take
much pride in the way they are turned
out for the road. And when we come
to examine the stuffy holes in which our
farm horses are kept, in but too many
instances. it is not surprising that they
are FIRE. uently touched in the wind, I"
and suffer from other complaints clearly
attributable 10 unheal by stables. The
same laws affect alike the health of the
horse and his master, and that of farm
horses, as well as of farm laborers.
would often be much worse than it is,
were it not for the large proportion OF
time spent bv each in the open air. Al
thorgh the days are comparatively short
during winter. yet the work which falls
to be performed by the horses of the
farm is by no means always of light
description, and as the DAYS lengthen
out. the work. as a matter of course,
becomes heavier, because of its long
continuance. 1t is essent al. therefore,
that horses be kept in a condition rather
over than under their work; and we
must bear in mind that once horses
have been "let down" in condition, it
is difficult to bring them up to the mark
again. Hay, corn and oats must always
form the main staple of food of farm
horses, but the farmer may be assisted
BY good fresh oat straw. especially
when the hay crop is short, while there
are other articles, capable of being used
as food. which help to restrict the con-
sumption OF the latter. However, oat
straw must be sound and fresh if given
to horses, and it is advisable to chaff
beth it and hay, and also to crush or
grind the corn and oats. Chatf-cutters
and grain-bruisers are most valuable
machines where horses are kept, much
more so than many farmers appear to
imagine. 1t is, perhaps. little trouble
some at first to get horses, accustomed
to long hay, to rise it in the chatfed
state: and trouble" as we all know.
has led to the neglect of m ny useful
4 h o1,.,fS w.
BILE is what too many farm servants NOR
tally hate, and they will try every dodge
to get a machine condemned which in
wolves even small share of
it. But it should not be forgot
ten that the value of chaf-cutters
has been well proved. and that
all who have continued TO use them, and
to combine crushing the grain along
with chatting the hay. have found it
decidedly beneficial and economical.
The horses may become accustomed to
chafled hay or oat straw, which has
been prepared by the cutter, by mixing
a portion OF the chaff with the gran;
and. in fact, grain should not be given
without some chatfed hay or straw
among if, especially if it is not crushed,
IS mixture of cha I compels the horse
10 mast.cate the oats thoroughly.
There are some horses which have
fashion of boiling their grain without
sufficient mastication, but we have sell
dom found ''bolter'' of this kind sue
coed when chaiied hay was mixed with
he grain. When not properly masti-
Gated. the grain will pass through ali
an NAL in an unimpaircd state. and we
see the results in these sprouting and
growing up where the dung from the
stable yard has been put out on the
and. We have. on fIe luent occasions,
recommended frequent feeding, little
and often," that is. as oten as the ar
of the work could allow, and
we have done SO, because we consider
It highly dangerous to allow a horse to
lat a large quantity of grain greedily,
which he will certainly do if kept long
1t work without feeding. Long fastS.
by heavy feeds. is sure way
o bring on collie and inflammation of
he bowels. which may be entirely
prevented by an opposite sys-
EN- OF management. We have
of many instances where horses
we're liable TO severe fits of collie; and
We have in most cases found that the
nen who owned or used them were in |
he habit working them for many
hours without feeding them. By adapt
ne the plan of '1ittle and often" such |
horses wee perfectly cured of their |
endency to collie. and we have since /!
lad no trouble with them ON hat score.
some disapprove of giving cooked or |
steamed food to farm horses, but our |
experience has long ago convinced us
hat it is not only a useful auxiliary in |
he dietary OF the stable, but even an |
article. During summer
md autumn, horses are chiefly. in many
instances wholly. fed on green food, and
! sudden change to dry is not advisable.
t is good p an to keep some common
at constantly within reach of the horse.
t should not be mixed among his food,
nut placed in convenient corner,
where it can not be wasted. Where
lorses go loose in the barn yard, with
n open shed for shelter. few pounds
f salt should always he kept in sep
rate trough in q corner under shelter
rom wet. There is no danger that the
orses will consume too much of it;
heir appetite for salt, or the quantity
hey need, may safely be left to their
instinct. A sufficiency of pure water
hould not be neglected. Besides aid
no digestion. salt is inimical to worms,
nd where horses. young and old. can
lways have access to salt. they will not
e troubled much with worms. -Prairie
'Grmer.
l
Apparently a misers "perturbed
pirif' has Teen melting a woman
wing near Atlanta to look for his
uried treasure. A year ago last sum-
Ter she dreamed that there was some
loney which had been concealed by a