The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-17
HORSE SENSE.
The Kind Needed, Not by the Horse,
But by the Owner.


wonder If any one can give rea-
sonable excuse for watering horses as
soon as they have finished a meal or
just before going out for drive, says
writer in Suburban Life. In the
first place, the oats are washed out Of
the stomach into the intestinal can
ais, where they cannot be digested and
must be an active irritant, and, in
the second, a stomach full Of water
makes a horse dull and loggy. A lit
tie at a time and that often is good
rule in watering stock.
| Did you see that warning signal
which nature threw out the other day
as you stopped your horse for mo-
Iment? AS soon as it halted one fore
foot was thrown forward because
something was wrong and there was
pain.
If you had examined the animal you
might have found some heat about
1.-THE coronet or some sensitiveness
along the muscles Of the pastern or
about the ankle. Your friend says
"call a veterinary and have him nerv-
ed"
! A better way is to stop using for a
few DAYS, remove the shoes and let
| If an
earth floor is not to be had. OF
course the grain ration must be great
Ily reduced and bran nashes substi-
tuted
Then see If the heels have been
cut so low as to strain the muscles OF
the leg, or the toes left long to insure
more stride, or the foot Is not proper
tly balanced. mo foot no horse" is
an old adage
Why not take away those cribs and
let your horse feed from the floor?
1t will require more time for 1t to
consume q meal, but that is surely no
objection and the animals digestion
will be improved.
How about that horse which is so
ravenous for grain? Did you ever
1 try one of those cribs with cups to
prevent boiling of the grain, or have
you experimental by scattering the
oats along one side Of the stall floor
so they must be eaten slowly? Any
device which necessitates twice the
thine usually consumed in putting
away a ration Of grain will materially
aid the appearance, service and con-
dition of horse.
DO you stay with your horse while
he is being shod? How then do you
know that he is being kindly treatedY
i saw a good smith strike a horse over
the head the other day with his rasp
and the marks of that blow will re-
main for weeks
Many valuable animals have been
permanently injured by such blows
lgiven under impulse, the result OF
lvexatious switching Of tail or strug-
CLING. No sane man will allow the
connecting hoof structure between the
wall Of the foot and the frog to be
cut away simply to give a more
pleasing appearance.
BY this one makes certain contrac-
ition of the heels, with all its attend
ant permanent ills. This tissue is the
natural hoof expander and as such
must be closely guarded.
Did you ever have your foot fitted
to shoe, or do you insist on having
shoes fitted to your feet? Why, then
allow blacksmith to fit your horses
foot to the hot shoe by burning the
hoof until there is equal bearing?
TO be sure there may be no evid-
ence Of pain. but the soaring Of the
hoof structure with q hot iron never
will be permitted by humane man.
That the operation Injuries the foot
makes contraction more likely and
unbalances the adjustment of parts
cannot but be admitted.
One of the most successful stage
drivers Of the old time told me years
ago that horse would last third
longer and do better service if its har-
ness fitted in every part--and think
| he was right. Take a look the next
time you drive out and see if the horse
is the right distance from the carriage
to insure the minimum of force In
moving same and yet not hit; if the
collar fits; the hreastplate or holdback
is not too high or low or the saddle
too far forward A business man, OF
better still, a woman, will at glance
/ detect ANYTHING wrong.