The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-03-28
Ihe 6aruter.
THE DRIVING HORSE.

No youth should be permitted to have,
own or drive good horse for pleasure, until
he understands how to care for it properly,
and does 50. The only way to keep good
horse so il by care If you do not have to
do the work yourself, it is necessary to know
how. SO you can intelligently direct the
Iabors Of sothers. Before starting for a
long drive, do not, as some foolishly do,
give your horse an extra heavy feed, but
give him only his regular feed, and leave
the extra for him when he comes back.
Drive moderately for the first few miles,
until your horse gets settled, then you can
90 faster without injury. Many fine
horse has been spoiled by feeding heavily,
Harvesting at once, and then putting him
down to his speed from the start. When
returning, slow up and walk your horse,
or only jog him, for a mile or 50 from
home, if you have had long or spirited
drive. SO as to cool him off. 1t does not
hurt horse to water him while en- route,
even if he is warm, unless he ismuch over
heated, if you do not give him too much,
and do not stop longer than to have him
watered The perspiring workers IN the
harvest field drink literally of water and
keep on with their work without injury.
It is only the extremes that work injury to
man and beast. IF the horse is warm when
brought in, sponge out his mouth with
cool water, and rub him down briskly with
wisps of straw until he is dry, and walk
him around, if he is very warm, to cool of
gradually. IF the weather is hot put him
in the stable, let him remain unblanketed
unless he has been clipped and out of
draft IF the weather is cold, put on a
light cover until he cools off and dries, and
afterwards blanket or not, as has been the
custom. Have the shoes reset once a
month. Use plain shoes, with the heels
little thickened-not calked or toed, and
Eve nails viii generally be enough, if pro
perly put in. In times of ice and sleet,
when the roads are slippery, use frost
nails. renewed as often as necessary, and
YOU will have no trouble from slipping.
Keep him on ground floor, in the stall.
IF the feet become dry and hard do not
use oil or grease, but clean out the feet,
soak them in salt water, putting one foot
at a time in a bucket, and then chafe
briskly until thoroughly dry. After this
at night fill the foot with fresh COW dung,
well pressed in, letting it remain in over
night and cleaning out next morning, and
washing and chatting as before. Two or
three applications of this simple remedy
will generally effect cure.
For puller or lugger use a large leather
or rubber covered bit, not twisted or curb
bit. We cured one of the worst luggers
we ever owned by adopting just such bit
The former is humanely effective, while the
latter is cruel in the extreme, and makes
the horse much more desperate and dan
gerous.
A little linseed meal, given occasionally,
will help to keep the coat bright and glossy
IF the horse has been out to grass and
"slobbersn badly, just before you are ready
to start give him head of cabbage one
which is not hard enough for use or sale
will do-and it will remedy the unpleasant
habit. In grain, oats good, bright and
clean should be the principal food, with
an occasional mess of cut feed, roots, ETC.,
to break up the monotony- Bright, sweet
timothy hay only, or bright and well cured
corn blade, should be the only hay given.
Glover is not fit for driving horse, thougA
it may do for work horses. Country Home.