Year: 1879

II. II. s., Meeklenburgh, N. Y, writes
to the Country Gentleman


| have had care Of horses for the past
tweuty-one years, and never had one sick
in all that time, though / have had two
die Of old age, one at twenty-eight. There
is no great secret in keeping horse sound
and well; and since the advent Of the
horse-tamer and lecturer, it is plainly to
be seen that the number Of stiAed, spay-
ined, ringboned and diseased horses is coa-
stantly growing less; but there is still room
for great improvement. Some farmers
make great mistake in feeding too much
grain, keeping in close, warm stables, blank
eting, &c. A horse 50 pampered is apt
to get sick, and when brought out is easily
heated and catches cold; OF else is apt to
be above his business, with heels higher
than bis head, which is neither pleasant
nor profitable, as man can keep his team
feeling we'll without feeding up all the
coarse grain common farmer can raise.
The requirements Of nature are very sim
pie and very easily supplied, and consist
chiefly in proper feed, air and exercise,
and regularity and moderation in feeding
and handling, the two chief causes Of trou-
BILE being bad management in the stable
and hard driving and earelessness on the


road.


A horse should have a stable entirely


above ground, well lighted and well


ventilated II is next in importance


that he be fed at certain regular hours


also that he be not fed too much at once


as he should clean out the manger every


time, especially if not used, and be ready


to grab at the next mess; it will do nc


harm if the bunk is empty two or thre,


hours. Horses fed in this way will really


eat more and do better than if the man


ger is constantly crammed with that whiel


has been mussed over; besides, the hors,


is not kept stuffed all the time and hi


wind is better Again, it makes a grea


difference what horse is fed. Hay ant


oats alone will ruin some horses, and ha,


should not be fed steadily to any horse


A safe system of feeding in winter is a


follows HAY in the morning, and goo


bright constalks twice a day, with FEY


ears Of corn morning and night If no


working; otherwise, corn three times day
the cornstalks being just loosening enoug
to counteract the effects Of the hay an
keep the animal healthy. 0at straw ma
, be used in place Of the cornstalks, or tc


getber, and then oats may be fed in plac
: of the corn. If horse is not being use
) he should not stand in the stable two day
in succession, but on mild days should )
: let out in the yard for exercise few hour
7 or be hitched up and driven.


When the horse comes to be worked i
: the spring the feed should be changed cI
: tirely; but in changing feed always do
gradually, and no harm will ensue. Whe
: working, the feed should consist Of CT
hay, wetted and mixed with meal made
J corn and oats in equal parts ground t
gether; and it is astonishing how lit
e feed Of this kind will keep horse goC
: at hard labor-it gaunts him, as he shou
d be. He is not stuffed with hay; his wiz
!; or breathing power is better, and he do
q not need to drink SO much water. As
u watering, have said nothing, as the rul
. for that are so simple and 50 generally u
Z derstood that any man who will founder
q horse ought to be fined and imprisoned {
y cruelty to animals. In regard to the rca
J. ing aud raising of horses, | will say b
? little, being not an expert, though mu
= have some useful knowledge, and viii siI
y ply add In the management Of hor;
!, = bring into play all your skill and ingenuit
Il taking advantage Of your knowledge Of Il
;. nature and disposition Of the particul
2 one with which you are dealing, viii
y knowledge you will obtain by obseryatio
/ (no two requiring the same treatment
/ and thus avoid the necessity Of ruling
+ brute force.