Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-04-09
ROAD HORSES
VALUABLE HINTS FOR THEIR TREAT
MENT.

MENT.
Proper Care tn BlRnkettng Pays Pro.
tectIon from Drnughss- Box stalls
Feeding Attention 20 the Hoofs Im-
partant.
When one considers how horses are
usually treated when they are unhar-
messed from a long drive, it's source OF
wonder that there is so little sickness
among them. Could we know, however,
what percentage OF lives are shortened
by such want Of care as is SO often APP
parent. we should probably see that the
relation Of cause and effect is in force
here as well as elsewhere. Except in the
severe weather of winter, horses are fire.
luently placed in their stalls unhlanketed
after drive that has warmed them Sc
that every pore in the body is open
though they may not be apparently
bring on a cold. viii surely weaken tho
animal for future work. There is rarely
a day, even la summer, In our Northern
States when horse should not have
tight blanket thrown over him when he
comes ia from road work, while in win
ter it is, Of course, especially important
that the chest and abdomen 90 thor
oughly protected, as 1t Is not by the ordi-
nary stable blanket. When warm
horse is placed in a cool stable In winter
his blanket should not only cover his
chest completely and closely, but should
pass completely around his body and be
fastened closely. The blanket that sim
oily covers the back and hangs down the
sides of a horse leaves exposed to the cold
that part Of his body most susceptible to
chills.
There ought to be a box stall in ever,
stable into which warm horse can be-
put while cooling off. His own heat VIII
soon warm the temperature, and he viii
there be secure against draughts, but :lie
blanket is necessary all the same. A
great many farmers never think it neces.
sary to clean the mud from their horses
legs, and rub them dry after they have
come in from wet and muddy roads. A
pail of warmed water and stable sponge
will make all clean in three minutes
time. aud as little more will suffice to rub
them dry with an old piece of cloth that
should be kept for the purpose. Tie
mud and gravel ought to be cleaned outot
their feet at the same time. and a clean
bed OF straw or other material given
them to stand upon. How can horses
feet keep sound when all kinds of filth
work into them and remain there, per-
haps for days? When horse has been
perspiring his hair becomes full of theex-
ldation which is mixed with dead skin
and dirt, If the road be dusty. When
the surface becomes dry this accumula-
ion should be brushed out or the hair
and skin will get into very unhealthy
state Too few farmers horses have tha'
bright, glossy coat that betokens a
uealthy skin.
Again, it should be remembered that
horses used for road work require a diff
ferent food ration from that needed by
those that are not called upon for rapid
axertion. The men who train and care for
ihe fast trotting horses of the world know
what foods are best suited to the needs
Il road horses, and they depend largely
IN oats, with small quantity of bright
nay for the rations that they give. As
shere is great muscular waste in this
work, muscle forming food is needed.
1t is also of much importance. in the
case of road horses, to see that the shoe
ing is properly done. Where the feet
play such an important part in tho
work one can not watch too closely to see
that nothing goes wrong, either in the
manner of shoeing, or in the time when
Il needs to be done. Horses feet are fire.
luently injured by allowing the shoes to
remain on for too long period without
-esetting, and they are more frequently
injured by ignorant workmen. When
horses are to be turned into pasture
for any length of time their shoes should
be removed and their hoofs carefully
trimmed, If trimming is needed. Their
seet will thus have a chance to rest, and
The ankle muscles will regain their tone
If strained through imperfect slioeing
Care in the points mentioned will do
much toward lengthening the working
life of our roadsters, and toward render
ing their daily service more valuable and
more agreeable.