THE HORSE ON THE FARM.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 65, 7 October 1875, Page 7

THE HORSE ON THE FARM.

. A^a, recent ..meeting of. the Orleans County Farmers' Club the above subject was discussed. The result of the information" is -thus 'stated by a correspondent of the ' Albany Country Gentleman.' :-r- : :: . In., rearing and breaking a colt, the law-.of kindness should not be forgotten. The. first thing in breaking is to let the colt. know-you are .its- friend, ancLthis cannot be done too soon, .Never allbw the colt to" get wild;' but rather teach it to be.giad to see you.-. When you have secured the full confidence of the celt, little breakih'g' is needed ; you have only to teach the colt what it must do.. Patience arid kindness, will do this easier-; and- better than, any other course The ,cplt having become a workhorse'^ori the farm, how should it be managed and cared, ,/for now ? How should it be wdrked, driven, fed, and taken care of? Should not the great law of kindness still have a controllihginfluence in the management of the horse ? If a good span, . with heavy feedings can plough two acres a day, .or travel .eight or ten miles an hour, still may it hot be better policy to plough 1-| acres a day, or not drive faster than six to eight miles an hour? May riot a horse. last much longer, and do a deal more"work, and do it at a" less cost for feed, if. carefully worked, and driven, and carefullyTmanaged ? There, are a great many, 'unsound, horses "in the country, and it. would, be interestingand instructive'- information , could we ascertain how many become so by hard' usage. . Horses are "worked' too hard, made to draw too hard, or driven too hard,; arid the effect is sooner or later seen ; in. some unsoundness: With a little^care and caution in each case the trouble; might have been avoided. How many horses are seen about tlie country prematurely crippled and worn put for want of more care and jndgment at such times ? Most horses do not do more than half or two-thirds the work they might have accomplished if not thus prematurely used up. True,- with heavy feeding, horses will do a. .large amount of hard work, or fast work steadily for a few years, but they soon wear out. Stage horses do not last half as long as farm horses ; they usually wear, out in five to eight years, while. farm horses, with careful usage, may last -Uyenty. , s The most natural feed for the horse is good pasture ; the next is grass made into hay ; but it must be made intoiiay after it is cut, not made or ripened : while standing. On such grass or hay, when idle or at light work, a horse will keep in fair condition. If hard or fast work is desired, it will need with such hay or grass a suitable allowance of grain. If kept on dry feed a moderate allowance of carrots, in addition to other feed, will be a great help. Carrots not only promote 1 the digestion of other feed, but they also tend to promote the general health and thrift of the animal. It is a question whether many farm horses are not grained, too high;' whether graininghigh and making them ; very fat in the "-winter^ brings them in the best condition for work through the summer. Nature ; provides no grain for the wild horse, but nature does not make the horse work ; men add grain tb -'keep -up the condition' and strength while doing hard work. Here, it seems tomey is- the v key tb the rule for keepinghorses, to wit,, sufficient grain to keep, them in condition when at work ; but, when idle, plenty of pasture, or of good early cut and wellmade hay, should be all that is, needed. • The care: of the: horse oh the; farm will necessarily include some doctoring, as' in rthe-way they areTkept they are liable to get sick or lame. I may riot, be. well pasted * on : this, matte^rbut my impression is that. > horses are; doctored too much. I think the best course for farmers is to do what they coriby good care, suitable exercise, and ;• carejfuT management", td" pTeyent, horses from; gdtting iritd a condition' torieed medicine. When they do appear to need* it, rest, good care, arid good nursing \yili" ofteri b f e : the best remedies. T'h ; Violent attacks : and 'stubborn ' diseas'e'sy a gbod veterinarian should be dmplpyed; "/^oi a -good 'horse, a man nvho> thoroughly understands his business is.omuch fhe ibest. .drugs, many good horses, as^eli^as n^y^fjew people. *