The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-02-02
Little Attentions Required by the Horse.

Fit is right to call the horse . saga
cious animal, then it is right, if We take
no other than purely selfish view Of
the case, to give him such kindly and
necessary attentions as he will be thank.
full for. The merest cur is thankful for
attentions, hence why should not the
horse be equally thoughtful and ready
to serve the hand that gives him his oats
in place of the one that gives him the
lash. If q horse, naturally vicious, at
tacks the groom, it is because he is first
attacked, or otherwise thrown into q
frenzied state from injury or fright.
1t is entirely natural that horse should
know the difference. and, if allowed,
would choose the comfortable instead OF
the uncomfortable stable. The shelter
given to horses in the winter is too often
so out of repair that currents of cold air
pass under the floor or around the horse.
This is q source of no little discomfort to
the animal while not at work, and may
cause illness to the heated animal just
in from his work. To throw blanket
over a horses back in such case affords
but slight protection, as the hair and
skin of the lower portion of the body are
thinner than on the upper; and it may be
added to this. that chilling of the limbs,
these being in no wise protected by
blanket, is an active source of congestion
to the vital organs of a horse that has
been hard pushed at his work.
Especially is it true that horse so
driven that the lungs are wrought up to
an excited state, is liable, if placed in
cold stable, to contract pneumonia or
bronchitis. That condition of tempera-
ture which is known to aggravate lung
disease when present, is also well calcu-
lated to cause a slight irritability in the
delicate tissues of the lungs to grow
into formidable inflammatory attack.
Hence, one of the little details which
goes to make up prudent care of the
horse Just in from exciting or fatiguiR
work, is to place him where he can
breathe the warmest air in the stable, if
there is any one place warmer than an
other. Especially should lie have his
head turned away from cold current,
the body and limbs being rubbed dry in
the meantime, and the latter bandaged
with flannel if the fatigue is great and
there seems to be any constitutional dis
turbance. Independent Of the hazard
from liability to lung trouble or rheuma-
tism, these attentions are required on
The score of comfort merely. In addition
TO these attentions, the horse should be
walked about until the circulation and
surface are in good state.
The horse is required to show life and
to travel when out of the
stall, hence there are certain attentions
required in the feeding that his body may
be supple and his spirits lively. The horse
led freely on corn will not be in fit con-
lition for active driving. In popular
language, corn is said to be heating, and
t has a tendency to produce indigestion.
As the horse with confined bowels is
necessarily spiritless. the stable should
,e at all times provided with bran and
Ill cake, that by judicious use of these
he bowels may be kept in just the right
tate-not loose, for this is facilitating.
+ the horse is expected to 60 fast for a
hort distance, to pull heavy load, or
make a days drive with comfort and
afety to himself, no large amount of
lay should be given. The same rule of
,eeping down the size of the abdomen
Ilways practiced with the speed-horse-
hould be the rule for service of any kind,
whether the animal be kept for light
irving, or equally if he weigh ton and
works upon a four-ton truck.
The giving of salt to the horse is one
# those little attentions that takes but
title time, and if only because he likes
he taste of salt, he should have it as a
luxury. Confined As he is upon two or
hree kinds of food during the entire
ear. he should certainly be INDUCED in
lis taste for salt, even though merely
or the pleasure enjoyed in the eating,
nut salt has its uses, and these are real,
lot imaginary. 1t stimulates the flow
rom the follicles, excites action in the
muscular coat of the stomach and bow
Is, and in this way tones up digestion.
Iorses that suffer from indigestion are
ute likely TO have worms, and salt is
destructive to these. The young worm
ust forming in the bowels is readily de-
troyed by salt, hence its regular moder-
tie use not only removes these from the
owels, but is antagonistic to their
lrther formation.
The position occupied by the food be-
,re the horse may be made one. of dis.
omfort, through the use of the managers
nd feed-boxes placed higher than the
atural formation of the animal renders
comfortable. The natural position in
,eding is with the head down. With
ne head elevated. mastication, as well
s the act of swallowing. is made diff
nlt. Some object to high feed-racks
ecause of the liability of dust and hay
led falling into the horses eyes. When
he rack is so high as to cause this re-
lit, then, OF, course, this is an added
ojection. National Lire Stock Journal.
Dangerous Funeral Appliances.