BREEDING HORSES AND MULES. {Continued.)

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1692, 10 May 1883, Page 4

BREEDING HORSES AND MULES. {Continued. )

Hk should bo brought into the stable, and visited and handle often until he is somevybat used, to it, then portions of the harness tried on ; if he can bo accustomed to it without showing fear, lead him out into'the yard, and make him turn to the right- or 'lift at the word on the reins. If he refuses to obey, which is qnitoi likely, , we know qf no way but to whip him into subjection. (In using the whip be careful, and watch the colt or old horse, as the case may be, when you see him tremble never strike again, or you will cause his passion to arise. Fondle hiin;,then'he trill know he was corrected for a fault, and will be more obedient.) When he does obey reward him. If you succeed in making him obey here, fasten him beside a steady horse with a light waggon. Place him on the near, or lefthand side of the pole, until he gous steady in harness. Make him go peaceably if he will, forcibly if you must. If after all these operations he shies from the harness, tries to run from the waggon, or refuses to draw, do not give it up, but ,use every exertion to bring him to submission, and finally to the process known as " taming." No horse properly gentled and tt dined accouling to the above directions will need " timing," but as the majority of colts arc never tiaiued, a great many will have to be "tamed." INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING STALLING, &C. The horse can see in the dark, but not in total darkness. Nothing tlnives without light. The stables should have the sunlight by day, and whatever light there is by night. If the best plan is adopted, and the stables urn to the roof they can ■well be lighted by windows in the 1 oof. But, however this may be, the light should come from above and behind the horse. A twelve-feed stable will allow of a window over the door, for there should be a door six feet wide, and eight feet high behind each hoise ; this door should be cut in halves both ways, making four quarters, either one, or all of which can be opened or closed at pleasure' They should be wide ,uid high, in order that there might be no danger of the horse hitting his head or his hips in going out and in ; it should be di\ ided, in order that in the summer the upper half can be kept open, and a di aught of pure air supplied. The stable should be cleaned out and aired ovciy morning, and if the horse stands in it during the day, at night also. The mauutc should not only be shovelled entucly out of the stable, but the floor should be thoroughly washed down with water, as recommended in the chapter on manures, not only to sa\e the manure, but to save tlie eye?, nose, and lungs of the horse from the ammonia, generated by the fermenting mine. This ammonia is the fruitful cause of many of the diceaies of the horse. Not only should the impure oir bo as far as possible excluded, but the hoise absolutely requires fresh air if you would keep him in a state of health. This can be secured by a very cheap and simple contnvancc. An air-box, eight inches squat c, should be run througn the whole length of the building, each end being opeu to the air, but pioteotod by a screen of slate or wire. This box may be about even with the nostiil\ and opening an inch square made in it in each stall. In most stables the mnngcrs are too high. The horse naturally e.vts oil the ground. (Now, I hold Hie manger should be higher than the chest of the horse, so that he would not have to low er the head or reach too hiyh.) This bangs us to the subject of food. The pastuic is the natural feeding ground ol the hoise. Tender, juicy grass and twigs are his natural food. His teeth are soft, his throat, stomach, and intestines are sensitive. In feeding the hoise, these plain facts are generally overlooked or ignored. No positive mle for feeding all hordes can be given, but the food should be soft, juicy, easily digested. It should be clean and sweet. Clean, fresh water should be always within liis lrnch. Tlic farmei's horse can and should have nioic or less pastuiage. When the glass is gicni and tender in the spnng the horse delights in it. In the waim summer nights, it possible, he should he pciiiutted to ioo.ni at his plcasmc in the pa^lmo lathui than confined in the heated st.ilile, tounented by flies or other insects The cool, dewy giass will be \eiy beneficial to him. When confined in tho stable in waun weather the uppei h-ilf of the stable door Bhould be open, and bo ficu to tin ust his head out in the night aii if he choose, m hich he cci tainly w ill. Wo ha\ c, in tho chapter on bieediuy, lefeired to the food nccossaiy for the maie and foal, and will only speak heic of the food or working horses. Too much hay and too little gram is tho mistake in feeding horses. Forotdinary woik, fiom eight to ten pounds of hay (by winch we mean tho best of hay properly prepared), and twelve quarts of good hea\y oats 13 amply sufficient for regular feed. They should be fed with a lock of hay and half a pail of water on opening the stable; and when tho stable* have been cleaned and airorl, and the hor«o mooined, ho should half the other half pail of watei, and, if going out, siv quaits of oats. (This seems to me to be a, \«iy larire feed), if not going out four quaits, and .ifte-i these aio eaten, four 01 fhe. pounds of hay.