The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-11-30
Overlooking Of Horses.

1t is probable that those who have
charge of race-horses understand better
the principles and pratices which should
govern feeding horses than the average
farmer. We have read an article
written by DR.. Page and published in
the New York Tribune on health of
men and horses. He urges the impor-
lance of regular but moderate feeding,
constant pure air and regular work. He
objects to a fat horse Muscles are
what is wanted to stand hard work.
When fed high, with fat-producing
food, hard work rapidly exhausts the
vital force and great many horses are
ruined. DR.. Page favors training on
instead of training off weight and flesh.
He would have no fat put on to get rid
of, but would build up the muscular
system from the first This is the plan
as foreshadowed by Wallace and Knapp
in their discussion of the plan of win
tering colts. ''Condition has much to
do with the question of the ability to
undergo severe labor in inclement
weather, without undue hazard" This
state OF body can not be acquired in q
day. This is the idea which is elabor-
ated and practiced by experienced
horsemen in hardening their horses for
endurance on the race-track.
1t is great error in the farmer to at
tempt to put the horse in condition for
the hard springs work on the farm, by
commencing to feed him heavily of
strong food few weeks before the COM
mencement of work. This necessarily
is a failure. By prudent system of
feeding steadily, with daily vigorous ex-
ercise of the muscles, only can horse
be prepared for great physical endur-
ance. If this is not done. it will be
found that the horse, when it should be
ready for extra work, will be found
soft, subject to profuse perspiration, the
heart subject to undue agitation, thump-
ing against the ribs, warning the owner
that danger is near. There is too much
reckless stuffing of horses with strong,
beating food, without long and active
grooming, and regular active exercise
And this is too often the case in winter,
when horses have little to do, and kept
closely confined in poorly ventilated
stables. Horses should be constantly
exercised or fed sparingly of strong
heat-producing food. And this should
especially be the case with colts and
young horses. And farmers should
seriously consider this subject, and save
themselves from trouble and loss.
In days past several distressing cases
have come under our observation Men
coming to the West with their wives
and probably a few children, their prop
erty consisting of a pair of horses and
wagon. The horses being the support
and hope of the family in frontier life,
had to be taken particular care of dur
ing the winter, that they might be able
for the heavy spring work with the hope
OF making q large crop. The horses
are fed and pampered nearly to robbing
the children. In the spring from over
feeding and want of exercise, they were
totally unprepared for work, and as q
consequence when put at it, in their
condition, one or both sink beneath the
task, and die, leaving the owner in a
ruined condition defeated in the great
purpose of life, of opening up a farm
and growing up with the country. All
they could do was to send East for aid
to take them back to home and friends,
defeated and discouraged. Ii the
horses had been regularly and sparing-
~ fed ON good coarse food during the
winter, and had been groomed and ac-
lively exercised they would have been
able to meet the requirements upon
them when spring work came. And
many farmers now in poverty or on a
rented farm might have been one of the
lords of the soil, viewing his broad
acres, and counting his cattle on dozen
pastures. Let little more practical
sense be exercised toward horses in idle
ness.-Ioa0G State Register.