USEFUL HINTS TO HORSE OWNERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2408, 24 September 1886, Page 2

USEFUL HINTS TO HORSE OWNERS.

Horses are very delicate, mid liable" to many ailments, and persons owning them, , who are not very familiar with their nature and requirements, will find the following suggestions, cjndensed from an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer, useful, Never feed a horse with hay from a rack located above "his head, as a draught beats down which is injurious, and the dust'is liable to injure the eyes. ■ A horse should not be overworked, for, like man, he cets tired, and to keep in good condition, he should have rest and good bedding. Sometimes a horse will not eat his usual food. A mash of oatmeal, milkwarm, is about the best food to givo a horse under such circumstances. And then a horse should have prass. It jb his natural food. A continual diet of hay hardens the coating of his stomach. The food is not digested. Carbonic acid gas/* is genorated, aud the horse dies in agony, \ swelling up, suffering from what is commonly known as colic. Thou, again, horses need well-ventil-ated atablca, free from draught or damp. The floor should be smooth and nearly level. It should be well drained and light, for sudden change from darkg&s to light is trying to the eyes, aud siipup, offensive odoris injurious. Then, ayain, the bedding and litter should be carefully sepaiuted from that which is foul. They should be woll shaken up and dried, and the stall should be 1 thoroughly clelised; and when the stable is empty let in plenty of fresh air. A horse's stall should bo large enough to allow him to lie down comfortably in any position.' A tired horse will be glad to lie down with his legs stretched out, if he has room; but if you can't give him a loose box, then a light haltar should be used, and caro taken to arrange tho halter so that it may travel freely, to allow tho head to. move easily, for rest and sleep are as necessary as .food and water. If a horse comes to tho stable should be rubbed dry before the is put on. If he is standing about in the cold, it should be put on. The legs should be rubbed, and tho hoofs always examined for stones.