TAKE CARE OF YOUR HORSES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3707, 2 June 1883, Page 4

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HORSES.

Nover alloAv anyone to tease or tickle your horse in tho stable. The animal only feols the tormoufc, and does not unrlerstand the joke. Vicious habits aro thus easily brought on Never beat the horso A\'heu in tho stable Nothing so soon makes him permanently vicious.

Let tho horse's litter he dry and clean underneath, as avcll as on top. Standing on hot fermenting manure makes tho hoofs Soft, and brings on lamoness. Change the litter partially in somo parts, aud entirely in others every morning, aud brush out and cleau tho stall thoroughly.

To procuro a good coat on your horse naturally, use pleutly of rubbing and brushing. Plenty of "elbow grease" opens the pores, softens the skin, and promotes the animal's general health. Never clean a horse in his stable. The dust fouls tho crib and makes tlio animal loath his food. Use tho curry-comb lightly. When used roughly it is a sonrco of great pain. Let the heels be well brushed out every night. Dirt, if allowed to cake in, causes groaso and soro heels. Whenever a lior.se is washed never leave him till he is rubbed quite dry. He will probably get a chill if neglected. When a horso comes off a journey, the first thing is to w.ilk him till ho is cool, if hois brought iv hot. This prevents his taking cold. Tho next thing is to groom him quite dry, first with a wisp of straw aud then with a brush. This removes dust, dirt and sweat, aud allows time for the stomach to recover itself, aud the appetite to return. Also let his legs be well rubbed by the hand. Nothing so removes a strain. It also detects thorns or splinters, soothes the animal, and enables him to feed comfortably.

Lot tho horso have some exercise every day. Otherwise he will be liable to fever and bad feot. Let your horso stand loose if possible, without being tied np to tho manger. Pain and weariness from a confined position iuduco bad habits, and causo swollen feet and othor disorders.

Look often at the animal's feot and legs. Diseaso or wouuds iv those parts, if at all

neglected soon become dangerous. Every niriit look and see if there- is a stone between the hoof and the shoe. Standing on it all night, the horse will be lame in (tho morning. If the horse remains in tho stable his feet must be "stopped." Heat and dryness cause cracked hoofs and lameness. The hoofs should not be "stopped" oftener than twice a Aveek. It Avill make the hoof soft and bring on corns. Do not urge the animal to drink Avater when he refuses. It is 2' r °bably hard and unwholesome. Never alloAv drugs to bo administered to your horso Avithout your knowledge. They are not needed to keep tho animal in good health, and may do the greatest and most sudden mischief.—Stable Hints.