The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-14
CARE FOR THE HORSE IN
 DISAGREEABLE WEATHER
BY GEORGE P. ROBERTSON.

Israel zangwill is represented, in a re- cent group of statuary, seated in a medi- tative mood, while at his feet crouches a favorte dog. The animal is half asleep, and MT. zangwill evidently shares his friends indoenee. Looking down upon the author and dog with comprehensive affec- tion and admiration is the portrait bust of woman-the managing editor of the Zangwill family. In such symbolism as the work expresses the sculptor has been far from flattering to Mrs Zangwill, but he has at least shown the author be- tween the most amiable of his critics and the most devoted and discerning of his friends. Had the artist seen fit to give Zangwill an equestrian pose, though the mount were only a hobby horse, his work would be complete as typifying de- votion. Place aux Danes, not merely as courtesy, but as a right; then ask yourself where else will a man, even Zangwill, find steadfast friendship, intel ligent appreciation, and thorough loyalty as with his dog and his horse? The Zangwll group is a monument to the friendship of dog and man of a vividness rarely surpassed, but in the Land of the Thoroughbred I heard the horse receive its highest praise. An adoring husband called his spouse .Old Hoss," at which she smiled fondly, evidently regarding the term as an endearment of the superlative degree Talk about the devotion of the Arab to his horse. just wait until you i have met a real Kentucldan.
 Speaking of horses, do you remember the extraordinary cartoons eight years 1 ago, when the A. S. P. c. A. first adorned American horses with sunbonnets? They m headgear for church, the garden or the opera Of course every jokesmith of the day had his gibe, but when you come to think of it. the horse is no better pro- | tected by nature against the excessive heat of the sun than mankind, and Just no wthe season has arrived when man | kind-and even womankind-change from the hat that gives warmth to the hat that | gives shade.
 | The use of a horse sunbonnet is horse | sense according to pr. w. Blair Reid, I veterinarian and pathologist to the New 1 York Geological park. 'As to the use | of sponge with the sunbonnet, said the same distinguished authority, it IS nigh I lv beneficial in hot weather if it can be kept wet If permitted to become dry, on l the other hand, it only makes the animal hotter and more uncomfortable, and had best. be left off.
 Dr. Reid was kind enough to give me | some advice regarding the care or the l-horse in hot weather, which ought to be l of interest to owners, drivers. grooms and 1 stablemen Taken in connection with the i Ten Commandments drown up at my re- l quest by Dr. Frank H. Miller, veterina- rian of the Westminster Kennel club, hls l suggestions ought to add greatly to the | comfort of the horse and the wealth or his owner. for the better the animal s ! fIa U1a efficiency.
 "The first great need of every animal during the summer months" to repeat Dr. Blar's suggestions, 'is water. The horse thrives best if given as much as he will drink four times day at regular | intervals With four waterings a day i the horse will each time drink as much as he needs and no more. If watered but twice day he is apt to drink more than is good for him.
 Tt is highly important that when horse shows signs of weariness in hot weather he be given a short rest If his head, ears nostrils and neck are sponged off with cold water at this time. the av- craze horse. gifted with wonderful re- cuperative powers, will be ready for work again in three minutes. Water can always be had. Drivers need only apply at the first house they see, city or coun- try, ask for water for a horse, to be sure of getting it. No one ever refuses |
 'Of course a horses task is frightened for him in the summer. He isn't expected to do so much But does it not occur to you that when his load is frightened, his harness might be frightened. too?
 "The breast-plate must necessarily be strong for the horse doesn't pull his load, he pushes 1t, but from the very fact that this pressure is exerted against the breast-plate is must be apparent there is no need of a heavy saddle adorned with metal work, etc., especially when the loads are lighter.
 ''I should recommend to drivers in the outskirts that if they haven't fy-nets, they affix small branches or boughs to the shafts. to aid the horse in protecting itself from flies. There'll be less kicking, and the horse will be more docile.
 "Fles among the worst enemies of the horse and every stable should be thoroughly screened to keep them out. have found horses coming from un- screened stables in the morning. weary looking and perspiring. wholly unrefreshed by the night. When that same stable has been so screened as to keep out the flies, the horses have come forth full of energy and vigor, and ready and willing for their days work
 "The vigorous kicking of the animals in the effort to rid themselves of flies re- suits in the loss of so many foot pounds of energy to every animal owner that if some statistician would figure 1t out the result would be astonishing.
 "The stable should be kept as cool as possible, and if a good wetting down is given occasionally 1t will add greatly to the comfort of the animals.