TO KEEP HORSES IN CONDITION.

Franklin Times, Volume 10, Issue 798, 9 January 1923, Page 5

TO KEEP HORSES IN CONDITION.

i \ Horses that are handled quietly and patiently will do much more work and keep in better condition on a given amount of feed than will horses that are abused and continually kept nervous and in fear of the driver.

(The feeds best suited to form the principal parts of the ration are good bright, clean timothy or upland prairie hay and bright, clean, sound oats. The average horse weighing 1500 pounds will require about 20 pounds of hay and 22 to 24 pounds of oats a day. There is a wide variation in feed requirements of different horses of the same weight, however. Some do not have the; capacity to consume and digest- that much feed and must be fed less even*though as a result they cannot be expected to work so hard, while others commonly spoken of as easy feeders will keep up and do well on a little less feed Ithan the prescribed amount. The ration given above can be improved upon by using one feed per day of good, bright, clean alfalfa or clover hay, or by substituting bran for about 15 to 20 per cent, of The oats used. The grain should be replaced by a bran mash or feed of boiled barley or boiled oats on Saturday evening. The daily grain allowance should be reduced by about one-fourth on Sunday. Corn can be used in place of oats to constitute one half of the grain ration, though straight oats is conducive to slightly more satisfactory results over a long period’of time. The heavy feed of hay should be given at night, while the heavy feed of grain may be given at noon little or no hay should be fed at noon. Watering both before and after feeding grain is the most satisfactory method. Work horses should also have an opportunity to eat all the salt they care for.