TREATMENT OF HORSES.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 193, 22 March 1878, Page 7

TREATMENT OF HORSES.

The following tract, written by Mr Graham Mitchell, F.R.C.V.S, has" been issued by the Victorian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals :— General Health. — Heat apoplexy, congestion of the lungs, colic, inflammation, &c, are unusually prevalent during hot weather, which may in a great measure be prevented by attending to the general health bf the animals at all seasons, so that they may be enabled to resist the excessive or sudden changes in temperature, &c; food and work should be regulated accordingly; ' sunshades should be generally usedconstructed so as to allow a current of air to pass beneath. Animals working in the sun should have their heads and nostrils frequently sponged with water, or vinegar and water, and allowed oatmeal in their drink. On the first appearance of exhaustion they ought to he taken out of 'harness, placed in the shade, and a little brandy and water, or ammonia and Avater, given, afterwards well rubbed over. Most of the? work should be done in the morning* and evening, and a spell given in the middle of the day. Feeding. — To maintain horses in health, the careful selection of sound clean food is of great importance ; damaged grain, and dusty, mildewed, badly-made hay should be avoided, especially in the form of chaff; animals Avill instinctively reject food that will injure them ; straw and bad hay chad, and the grain mixed with it, they nre necessarily compelled to swallow. Although chaff is. easier and more rapidly masticated, and to some extent compels the animals to chew-its-grain, they should not be -wholly fed upon it; hay should be given to ensure good digestion. An occasional. 'change or t mixture of fcod'is beneficial, but a

sudden change of one grain for another, or old hay for new, is often injurious ; setting up derangement of the digestive organs, causing diarrhoea, colic, &c. h must he borne in mind thnt the stomach of the horse is remarkably small, and, having no gall bladder, indicates the necessity of food being given at short intervals, at least every six hours, so as to maintain the animal in robust health. Avoid working a horse immediately after a full meal. Salt in the absence of green iood is necessary. When animals are highly led and the work severe, an occasional sprinkling of a vegetable tonic or spice will tend to ward off or correct indigestion or its consequences. Water. — Next to good food a regular supply of pure water stands in importance. It should be given at short intervals in moderate quantities ar a medium temperature, and is best supplied in troughs. Stables. — A clean, comfortable, Avellventilated, drained, and lighted stable is as necessary for the health, and appreciated quite as much by the horse as a bright happy home is by man. Loose boxes, with clean soft beds of straw should ahvays be provided, especially for hard-worked horses. If that be too expensive, dry tan or sawdust* may be substituted. The want; of good beds, and smail stalls in general u«e, disable prematurely more horses than the Avear and tear of ordinary work. Many of the dark low-roofed .■-heels called stables, with irregular -floors and neglect of light, ventilation, and drainage, are not creditable to 'our architects, and ought to be remedied. Grooming. —Substituting indiscriminate use of the hose for grooming is objectionable, and should not be permitted, especially keeping an animal for nearly ten minutes with the water playing with full force on a heated skin. Sponging over or a shower bath, afterwards rubbed dry, will preserve the natural gloss of the hair and soften the. skin. Whatever kind of washing is adopted a dry rubbing should always follow, especially about the legs and lower ports of the body, nnd a light rugput on till the skin is warm. Shoeing. — It is to be regretted that this important subject is sadly neglected, and the result is that two-thirds of the lame horses to be seen in the streets daily are made so directly or indirectly from bad shoeing. Heel and toe pieces for general use should be discarded. All horses should be shod with a level shoe, the superior surface flat, inferior I concave, and as light as possible consistent with utility, especially for fast work. Paring and rasping the hocf, sacrificing its necessary strength to please the eye, is most objectionable. It would be to the interest of owners to see to this. Harness. — The harness in use, as a j rub', is unnecessarily heavy for this climate ; badly fitting, neglected, and dirty collars, cause many horses to be galled j attention to this source prevents much suffering. The bearing rein, now seldom seen, should never be I used. Harness should be regularly \ cleaned, and kept soft and pliable, j otherwise it will chafe and wear out much sooner, fretting the animal and entailing loss to the owner.