Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1879 — The Care of Horses. [ARTICLE]

The Care of Horses.

I have had the care of horses for the past twenty-one years, and never had one sick in all that time, though I have had two die of old age, one at twentyeight. There is no great secret in keeping a horse sound and well; and since tne advent of the horse-tamer and lecturer it is plainly to be seen that the number of stifled, spavined, ringboned and diseased horsesjs _growing. less, great improvement. Some farmers make a great mistake in feeding too much Sain, keeping in close, warm stables, anketing, etc* A horse so pampered is apt to get sick, and when brought out is easily heated and catches cold; or else is apt to be above his business with heels higher than head, which is neither pleasant nor profitable, as a man can keep his team feeling well without feeding up all tho coarse grain a common farmer can raise. The requirements of nature are very simple and very easily supplied, ana consist chiefly in proper feed, air and exercise, and regularity and moderation in feeding ana handling, the two chief causes of trouble being bad management in the stable and hard driving and carelessness on the road. A horse should have a stable entirely above ground, well lighted ahTt'Vrsu Ventilated. It is next in importance that he be fed at certain regular hours; also that he be not fed too much' at once, as he should clean out the manger every time, especially if not used, and be ready to grab at the next mess; it will do no harm if the bunk is empty two or three hours. Horses fed in this way will really eat more and do better than if the manger is constantly crammed with that which bas been mussed over; beside, the horse is not kept stuffed all the time and his wind is better. Again, it makes a great difference what a horse is fed. Hay and cats alone will soon ruin some horses, and hay should not be fed steadily to any horse. A safe system of feeding in winter is as follows: Hay in the morning, and good bright cornstalk twioe a day, with a few ears of corn morning and night if not working, otherwise oorn three times a day, the cornstalks being just loosening enough to counteract the-effects pf the hay and keep the animal healthy. Oat straw may be used in place of the cornstalks, or together; and then eats may be fed in place of the corn. If a horse is not Doing used he should not stand in the stable two days in succession, but on mild days should be let out in the yard for exercise a few hours, or be hitched up and driven. — —— When the horse comes to be worked in -the spring, the feed should be changed entirely; but in changing feed always do it gradually, and no harm will ensue. When working, the feed shetild consist of cut hay, wetted and mixed with meal made of corn and oats in equal parts ground together; and it is astonishing how little feed of this kind will keep a horse good at hard labor; it gaunts him, as he should be; he is not stuffed with hay, his wind, orJireathing power, is hotter, and he does not need to drink so much water: As to watering, I have said nothing, as the rules for that are so Bimptoeinii.jp generally underatobd that any. man who will founder a horse ought to be. fined and imprisoned for oraelty to animals. In regard, to the rearing and raising of horses, 1 will say but little.

being not *n expert, though I must have some useful knowledge, and will simply add: In the management of a horse, bring Into play all your skill and ingenuity, taking advantage of your knowledge of the nature and disposition of the particular one with whioh you are dealing, which knowledge you will obtain by observation (no two requiring the same treatment), and thus avoid the necessity of ruling by brute force.— Cor. N. Y. Tribune.