The Hazlehurst signal. (Hazlehurst, Miss.) 1883-1885, 1884-02-28
Care OF Horses.

The horse Il noble animal. II Is
one Of the higher order Of animals, anu
stands hcxt to man In the scale OF AMI
NAL existence In regard to It, brain
and nervous development. Next 10
man. and far more than tie lesser en-
dowcd OK. II suffers pain from injury
or from surgical operations, and ncccs-
sarily from exposure, disease or neg.
lec,. Its high nervous organization,
too, gives II great intelligence; highly
refined instinct. which often approach.
Is to reason; n strong subsection to
fear and terror, and n greater aptitude
TO disease and injury than any Others
of the lower animals. For these rea-
sons. n well rs for its important uses
and duties, the horse requires the most
careful. skillful and generous treat.
mcnt. We call the man who will III
Use horse brute; he is worse. for he
is n coward, knowing well that his 7ic,.
tim will patiently suilcr his abuse anu
cruelty without any attempt ut rc'alia-
ton, and most briitcs arc free from this
contemplate vice Of cowardicc. But
in effect the horse suffers quite as
much from thoughtlcss, negative III
usage ~ from the active violence
Of brutal drivers. And probably
n, this season the horses sunc.'ingS in
this way are greater than at any other.
The rigors of the season. the condition
Of the roads. and u state of enforced
idlcncss while confined in a narrow stall
in which free movement Of the limbs is
impossible, and in which the poor AMI
NAL passes the scycrcst nights constant
" shlvcring with cold, and very COM
monty insufficient food TO maintain adc'
q,iats vital warmth; all these, too often
aggravated by other careless ne2lccts.
amount TO an aggregate of suffering and
misery which is painful to contemplate.
II is not that the farmer purpoScly in
ilicts suffering upon his horse. He Goes
not think when he takes the animal out
10 draw load or 20 upon n journey ON
ley roads that the shoes arc smooth, of
that II sLarpencd the calks are 50 high
n 10 change the level Of the foot and
throw il out of position so that every
movement, Is painful; nor docs he think
of the pains causcl by the wrcnching
Of the joints and icndons as the animal
slips aud attempts To recover himself.
Nor does he think when he reaches the
end Of his Journey and leaves tho horse.
heated with the exercise. 10 stand in TIC
cutting Icy wind. how acutcly II may
suffer In cry quickcncd nerve from
the exposure. Yet IL Is crucl--cnlcl
neglcct-nonc the less so because il Is
not intended 10 make the horse suffer.
Theirs are so many points which
might be considered in this connection
thu, our space would he inadequate Ia
treat Of all Of them; let us think of n
few Of the most inn oiiant. And first.
rs Ia the stable. This should be tight
and warm. but vet airy. for pure fresh
mir with its llfc.giving oxygen Is indis-
pcnsablc In maintain the warmth OF an
animal. 1t should be light, 10 prevent
the in,cns, pain and injury caused by
bringing a horse from darkness into the
full sunlight reflected from snow. IL
should he kept clean. so that the acrid
vapor, Of ammonia, which rot the lar-
nc,, and DESTROY the varnisl upon car
riagcs. may not in,urc the tender men,
branc, of the eyes. throa, anil lungs.
Next, the feeding should be liberal in
the winter time, and some grain should
be given. especially when the weather
is unusually cold. With n fairly good
stable, clo,hing is not required in the
stall. bu, n soft, dry, warm bel is; and
GOOD blanket should be provided and
used when horse is standing out oil
doors. and il should always be drawn
closely over the chest. Ii Is little
thing perhaps 10 refer Ia the pain
caused by puttinga steel bit in a horses
mouth when the temperature is zero.
Ia, II the owner will try IL upon his
own tongue he will learn how II affects
his horse. Indeed, ihcr" i -careHly an
hour in the day at this season when
something Is not occurring that nigh;
provoke thought, and this thinking can
not fail TO be pro table for the horse rs
well rs for his owner. ~. y. Times.