Page:Scott's Last Expedition, Volume 1.djvu/441

1911] Hence it is desirable to feed horses often and light. His present routine is as follows:

Morning.—Chaff.

Noon, after exercise.—Snow. Chaff and either oats or oil-cake alternate days.

Evening, 5 —Snow. Hot bran mash with oil-cake or boiled oats and chaff; finally a small quantity of hay.

This sort of food should be causing the animals to put on flesh, but is not preparing them for work. In October he proposes to give 6 ‘hard’ food, all cold, and to increase the exercising hours.

As concerning the food we possess he thinks:

The chaff made of young wheat and hay is doubtful; there does not seem to be any grain with it—and would farmers cut young wheat? There does not seem to be any ‘fat’ in this food, but it is very well for ordinary winter purposes.

N.B.—It seems to me this ought to be inquired into. Bran much discussed, but good because it causes horses to chew the oats with which mixed.

Oil-cake, greasy, producing energy—excellent for horses to work on.

Oats, of which we have two qualities, also very good working food—our white quality much better than the brown.

Our trainer went on to explain the value of training horses, of getting them ‘balanced’ to pull with less effort. He owns it is very difficult when one is walking horses only for exercise, but thinks something can be done by