The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-05-31
Care Of Farm Horses.

This is very trying season of the year
for farmers teams. The work is driving is
all heavy, with no off days, except Sunday,
and all Of them do not enjoy that season of
rest. The wise farmer knows that during
springs work and plowing time his teams
will run down rapidly unless they haye
extra feed and care, and the latter is quite
as impnrtunt as tine former. it costs more
to restore run down animals, than to K eep
them in good condition, while a team well
ted and cared for will DO more and better
work.
The wear Of work now comes most heav
lily ON the muscles, and the feed should not
only be sufficient, but rich in hitrogenous
or muscle producing elements. Corn is very
generally used rs the concentrated iced 70
horses IN the West. This is a mistake
since corn is largely fat aud heat. produc-
ing food, Oats, peas, ard barley mixed
with some corn should constitute the grain
feed for farm or carriage horses, especially
in warm weather. Every one familiar
with the tough, spirited French horses" of
Canada, knows their grain feed is chiefly
oats and peas. Hence they are strong and
enduring, and are generally preferred above
all others by city street railway companies.
Mr.. Stuart says good summer ration for
work horses is l6 pounds of oats and corn
IN equal quantities, ground together, with
IL pounds Of cut hay. Some English and
other European authorities make a ration
Of 10 to II quarts of oats, to pounds Of
hay, with straw and steamed chafT. The
chaif cap be fod in cities or on farms having
steaming appliances, while good clean
straw, finely cut, eau be fed on any farm,
though not to work horses. The writer's
feed for farm horses would be plenty of dry
cats, unground, il the anima rs teeth are in
good condition and he did no: bolt his food,
with a moderate feeding Of coed timothy
or moistened cut cloyer. We have seen
farm teams fed for years wholly on early
gathered and care fully cured clover fed dry,
though they ran in the pasture during the
summer.
The care Of the team is as important as
its feed When the farmer comes IN from
his day's work all perspiration and dirt,he
feels greatly refreshed by "washng up."
lie needs his supper all the same, but the
washing relreshes him, opens the pores and
contributes TO his budily health. A horse
is benefited by like treatment. A wise aud
humane driver will ALWAYS give team
careful grooming at the close of a days
work; they will not only enjoy ii, tut will
eat be lees inclined to rub themselves
in the stable, and lie down mnre quietly at
night, rest better, and be stronger for the
next days toll
The scratches" are often the result of
working in the dirt and damp. As a rule
this can be prevented by washing and rub
bing the exposed parts dry. We never yet
failed nf curing scratches on a well-ied ami
properly cared for horse, with warm water
and a dry cloth. BY little daily care,
washing in cold water CALLED shoulders or
back can be cured "r prevented, We have
done the work of a 200 acre farm with one
Iair Of horses thst were always in good
c ndilion, free from scratches or any nlher
disease, but they had plenty Of good feed
and the best care, and were stabbed twelve
months in the year.