The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-11-26
HORSE AND HoRsBMAN.

Fast walkers are more needed
than fast trotters, and perform a
much more important part IN the
Industrial economy of the country.
1t Is a good plan in dry, hot
weather, and whenever the horses
hoofs become hard and brittle, to
oil them overy day with sweet oil.
A horse cannot be kept sleek, no
matter how much grooming may be
bestowed, without abundant exer-
else. A horse needs his blood
warmed up every day to keep his
system properly regulated, and to
make hair lie down and be bright
and sleek.
The horse needs active and vigo-
rous exercise every day of the 800
to keep in the best spirits and con
dition, to give him good appetite,
to make him digest his food right,
keep his muscles hardened and his
wind properiylregularlated for active
use on the roads.
The horse that is properly fitted
with the harness upon him will per
form his work better and more sat
isfactorily than were no such pre-
cautions in regard to the horse OBJ
served. Proper hitching, with at
tention given all such details, is
very important with work horses on
the farm.
The Importance of cleaning the
floor of the stable often cannot be
too earnestly urged, for in hot wealth
er the collections there are alive
with maggots in few days, if left
undlsturbed, and this is a positive
proof of its unhealthfulness and i'm
purity. When the horse is not in
use the stall should be renovated
every morning and evening.
Be careful to water your horses
regularly and never under any cir
cumstances, allow horse to 90 to
his feed after being worked, without
first ha wing water set before him
If the horse is to warm too drink, he
is too warm to eat, and should be
allowed to stand awhile before Ell
ther is given; but never be so cruel
to that faithful servant as to make
it eat is food while thirsty.
Change the feed of the horses
quite often and under no circum-
stances compel them to an entire
corn diet for any great length of
time. Oats, under most circum-
stances, are the standard horse
food. Barley, wheat and rye are
all excellent grains to vary with
corn and oats; but they should be
soaked little before being fed, or
else they may pass through the ami
NAL without being digested.
The farmer should always raise
the horse that pays him best, and,
as a rule, this is either the very
heavy horse or the fancy one. No
low necked, little, ungainly horses
are wanted in these days. Men
will pay much better prices
even for a stylish farm horse than
for one of equal merits in other re-
spects but not OF good style. The
farmer, before breeding his mares,
should study the market on which
he must depend and breed for the
kind of horse that will best meet
the demand. There is no propriety
whatever in raising an animal that
will not meet the demand at good
figures.
A farmer has q use for good,
strong teams, and no other kind
should be tolerated on any farm
but many farm teams are small and
weak; just because they are not
properly cared for and are low in
flesh. One great cause why many
of these teams are not cared for is
because the farmer has too many
horses and spreads his care and
feed out too much. The remedy is
to not keep more teams than will
meet farm necessities, and when
they are kept in the best condition |
it does not require more than half
as many horses to meet the require
ments as when they are poor and |
weak.
Colts, says an exchange, should |
be taught to walk fast before there
is any attempt made to improve
them In any other pace. This may |
be accomplished by commencing |
very young and leading the foal at
a walk by your side, urging addi-
tional speed little by little without
break into trot; one or
two short lessons a day will soon
show a wonderful improvement, but
after lessons will be required to
prevent a relapse. The pace of a
horse being greatly hereditary, it
might be beneficial to study this
point more than is done when
breeding, for most certainly a good
walking horse sells well, and bad
walker is a nuisance to ride or
drive. A mare who is herself fast
walker will naturally act as school
mistress to her foal, who will have
to step.out to keep up with her.
A writer in the Pittsburg Sports
man says: know fifty men IN our
city who drive and ride their
horses with tips, and have done so
for two years, that would not have
a full shoe put on for anything.
Every one OF the horses were Grip
pied when shod the old way; now
they have sound, healthy feet, and
are as nature made them-heels
down where they belong. They
don't hunt around for soft place
Of road; they can go where a horse
cannot with full shoe. The own
ers do not allow the smiths to cup
Il ~. i.