Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/277

 him, as it is apt to weaken his digestive powers and perhaps cause indigestion. A horse should be fed regularly and not be disturbed at his meal. As a rule, if allowed to enjoy his meal without being interrupted, the horse will lie down and rest quietly for a time afterwards. Old horses, and those that are put to very hard work, should always have food that is easily digested. Oats are the best grain food for horses, though nearly every man feeds on maize in the colonies. Oats with bran and a sufficient quantity of hay or good chaff is the best food you can give to a horse in regular work. Carrots are a favourite food for horses in some countries, they are an excellent thing for winning a horse's heart or taming him. Give him a carrot whenever you go into his paddock, and he will soon learn to run to you. An ordinary feed for a horse that works regularly every day, and if fed regularly three times, is about 2 pints oats, 3 pints bran, and about twice that amount of chaff, all mixed together. If he gets this three times a day, and has a good paddock to run in at night, he ought to do very well indeed.

For a thoroughbred colt allow per day 2 pints oats, 2 quarts bran, and a little linseed meal if it is obtainable—to improve his coat. This can be divided into two feeds, say night and morning, so he will have some inducement to come up to the stable regularly. When he is eight or nine months old, his allowance can be increased.

During sickness, carrots are very good for horses, acting slightly upon the kidneys and bowels. I have known a long-standing and obstinate cough cured by carrots; it was a lady's horse, and she gave him a small bunch of carrots regularly every evening ostensibly to improve his coat, but it really cured the cough after a short time.