Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-12-26
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
How. 60 Care for Hor.es.

Commissioner Colman, of the agrcul-
tural bureau, was visited by Washing
ton Snr reporter and questioned in
regard to the proper feeding and care of
horses. The commissioner has devoted
great deal of care and study to the
horse. He owns a large farm near st.
Louis, which for years has been mainly
devoted, under his own supervision, to
the breeding, raising, and training of
fine horses. In response to request for
some information with regard to the
feeding and care of horses, based upon
his experience, he said that the feeding
of horses was a very simple matter, the
main requisite being the best quality of
oats and hay. Damaged hay and dam
aged oats were unfit to be fed to horses,
and most of the injuries to the digestive
organs were produced by food OF bad
character. some horses require more
food than others. For horses that work,
about twelve quarts of oats per day to
each Eorse, and from twelve to fifteen
pounds of hay was the proper quantity
to be ted. The oats should be fed in
three equal installments, and the main
portion Of hay should be given
at night. 10 horses that have
but little exercise, not more than
eight or nine quarts of oats
and about the same quantity of hay as
above should be given. Regularity of
feeding was very desirable Horses
should be fed three times day at a
certain hour, AID minute if possible.
They are excellent time keepers, they
know just when to expect their feed,
and if they do not get It at that time
they become worried and frctted. Dat
is a better grain food than corn, because
it is less heating and produces more
musc'e; but three or four ears OF good,
ripe corn thrown into the feed box occa-
sionaily would be greatly relshed by the
horses, and would be beneficial An
occasional addition of two or three
quarts of good wheat bran, either wetted
or dry, Is also relished; it furnishes q
variety, and conduces to the health of
the horse. A horse to do we'll needs
daily exercise, and cannot remain in
perfect health if kept standing in the
stall day after day. Two or three hours
at least of exercise is essential to health.
Horses should be given water about
half an hour before their meals, or not
until an hour has passed after they have
been fed grain. The stomach of q horse
is very small, and if large quantity of
water is taken the water washes the
grain into the intestines without having
been properly dlgested, and. frequently
inflammation or collie is the result.
| y good bed to sleep upon is indis-
pensablc, and many horses will not lie
down unless they have a soft bed to rest
upon. Thorough grooming, removing
the dust and dirt and the eXbalations of
the system from the coat of the horse is
also indispensable to good health and
condition. A thorough currying and
brushing should be given daily to every
horse if he is to be kept in the highest
health.
| Kindness in the treatment of horses is
very desirable. A horse responds to
kind treatment and endeavors to repel
and defend himself against cruel treat
ment. Vicious horse, are produced by
vicious treatment. A horse has the
same senses as man, can be educated
to do a great many things, if the proper
pains is taken with him from his birth
up, and if his senses are properly APP
pealed to he will become kind, useful
and intelligent domestic animal The
abuse and ill-treatment given to horses
throughout the country is very repre-
hensible, and every kind hearted man
should do all that he can to bring about
better treatment of the most useful
animal that the Creator has conferred
upon him.