FEEDING HORSES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 803, 7 September 1877, Page 4

FEEDING HORSES.

A fter a long rest, a horse, like his owner, gets soft, and tires easily. His muscles become weakened from disuse, and he should not be forced into hard work at once. Let it be gone into gradually, until his muscles become ■toughened. As the rnimal gets into work his appetite increases. He is •called upon to supply a large waste of muscular tissue, and he must have more food. This should be increased gradually, and should be such as will muscle. Corn is not so well suited for this purpose as oats, but it is the only food used by a majority of farmers in the West. It is the custom of some feeders to water their horses the first thing in the morning. I regard this as a bad practice, and much prefer to feed them with grain first, and let them fill up with hay before giving them water during the day whenever it is convenient. Most men require water four or five times a day, and I see no reason why a horse should not need it just as badly. I do not consider it a good plan to make a thirsty horse wait half an hour to cool off if he is warm, but let him drink enough to slake his thirst. Tins practice 1 have seen followed for thirty years, and have never yet had a foundered animal on the place. That result might follow in some cases, especially if •the horse is tied in a draught to cool off.