HEALTH FACTORS IN HORSE MANAGEMENT.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 8, 25 September 1906, Page 8

HEALTH FACTORS IN HORSE MANAGEMENT.

—* — By S. S. CAMERON, M.R.C.V.3., in the “Agricultural Journal of , i yictoria,^

No 2. BREEDING.

Cara in the selection and mating of breeding stock is necessary for the prevention of those diseases which are generally regarded as hereditary. Horses affected with any of the* following diseases or should not be used for breeding purposes Nasal disease, rheumatism, ricketts, roaring, whistling, broken wind, grease, navicular disease, ringbone, spavin, bogspavin, thoroughpin curb, and cataract. It woulS be well too, if breeding from* Stock possessing radical defects of conformation was avoided—ouch as, particularly, those with calf-knees,* bent legs, round gummy joints, flat feet with weak

“corny” heels, narrow contracted heels and muley feet, sickle hocks, knuckled fetlocks, and long weak pasterns, those “tied in” below the knee and hock, and those which “brush” or “speedy cut.” HEREDITARY UNSOUNDNE&S*

The supineness of Australian horsebreeders generally, and principally those who have the management of stock shows and stallion parades, in regard to the question of transmissible unsoundness in breeding stock is remarkable. It has been apparently begotten of that carelessness in the selection of sires and dams which was engendered in the days when horse flesh was a drug in the market. But in these present days, when ordinary sizeable three and four year old draught colts commonly fetch £4O to . £SO, and harness horses are propor-’ tionately, valuable, it is surely little short of a scandal that prizes are commonly awarded at agricultural shows, which are supposed to exist for the improvement of agriculture* stock, to sound and unsound breeding stock indiscriminately. FEEDING. The most essential attribute of food in so far as it may be a factor in the maijntainance of health, is that it should be sound. Musty hay inducing broken wind in horses, is a familiar instance of the ill effects of unsound or decomposing food. Next to soundness of the food comes the necessity for regularity in feeding, and that the food should be in due proportion both as regards quantity and quality By the observance of regular hours for feeding animals, and regular and not too prolonged intervals between feeding, a rhythmical action of the digestive organs is brought about, which induces more perfect digestion and ffiakes for disease-resisting strength. As a general rule for all herbivorous animals, the advice to feed little and often is good, in that it is in accord with the method of feeding in a state of nature. When such a practice is adopted with stabled animals, there is less likelihood .of any food being left over, and consequently the tendency to stomach and bowel troubles resulting from the ingestion at next feeding time of soured or fermented food is minimised. Soiled food should always be removed after feeding, and should never be mixed with fresh feed. Complete mastication of food is necessary to perfect digestion, and in the case of animals with the habit of “bolting” their food it is advantageous to let it be coarser than usual, go that chewing and grinding may be assured. WATERING. Very diverse views are held as to the proper time at which horses should be allowed to drink—whether before or after feeding. The most natural plan is to always have water accessible to the animal. If this is done, as much water will be taken as required, and no more, and : it will be taken’when required and at no other time. The opinion that water should be given only in limited too, according to the judgement of man—is an error. Horses in health seldom or never take more than they require. It is conceivable that after long enforced abstenance, as after profuse perspiration, they require—and take—more than is good for them to take at one drinking ; a quantity indeed which will, by its volume of coldness produce stomach or intestinal spasm (colic). In such circumstances it is advisable to interrupt the drinking for a time, or to take the “chill” off the water by warming it slightly, or by adding a little warm water to it.

It is well that water should be withheld for some time prior to the imposing of violent exercise or work. Racehorses, for example, should not be allowed water in a considerable quantity during the three or four hours preceeding a race. Perhaps the only other time when it is inadvisable to allow a long drink, if it is desired by t the animal, is immediately after feeding, when the fluid, in passing rapidly through the stomach towards its natural receptacle .(the caecum or blind gut or water gut) is likely to carry with, it into the small intestines some of the stomach contents which are still crude and harsh, and not in a sufficiently digested state to pass on, and which, therefore, may irritate the mocus lining of the bowels to an extent sufficient to set up colic, or even •inflammation of the bowels (enteritis). For similar reasons, if water is not kept continuously within reach, in which case, as previously stated, as much as will do harm will never be taken, the watering should always be done before feeding.

The necessity that drinking water for animals, should be pure and wholesome is obvious. On farms where the water supply consists only of water holes, which become foul and fetid from pollution by animal discharges, water-troughs supplied by windmill should be provided. The objection is sometimes raised that where water-holes and swampypatches are numerous, it is of 7 no use providing drinking-troughs as horses will not make use of them ; but it will be found on trial that horses will always go naturally to clean water. In point of fact ikey may be frequently observed to refuse to drink but sparingly of contaminated water. They may be seen to go to a foul and slimy water-hole, stir the water by wading, th<m smell it, and drink a little or wade out without drinking at all. That their tfcUjrt M w>t wuttffid, is .«ndM«a

by the fact* thfct they may be seeff td return and repeat the frrfdftffißnce time and again. . MANAGEMENT. Sc for ee the prevention q! disease ■ Is concerned, good management includes the continuous provision fonr housed an i mala of comfort able quarters and bedding, an adequate supply and interchange of fresh wholesome air without the occurrence bf draughts, suitable clothing, efficient grooming and cleansing, and regular exercise, or work in moderation. For animals in the paddock, in addition to an adequate supply of food and water, shelter or protection by rugs from. wind, rain and insects, and shade from the sun, are the highest advantage. It will be found by careful observations over a longer or shorter period of time, that Hie measure of health or freedom from disease of any stud of animals is in ratio due to the amount of care exercised in regard to these items of management.

There are certain times at which extra care in the management of stock is necessary v and profitable. Foals should be kept growing during their first winter. It is the wbrst possible policy to let them get low in condition cither from * shortness of food or lack of protection from the weather. An ideal winter paddock for young stock should contain a straw stack, whereby both shelter and a picking Of dry food is afforded. A check received during the first year ~is seldom made up for, and it will go hard with under-conditioned youngsters if anything in the nature of contagious disease gets amongst them. Weaning time is also a critical period. Foals should be gradually accustomed to take a little good hard feed for some time before they are removed from their dams, otherwise the sudden ldfes of milk will be serverely felt. CLEANLINESS. Although perhaps, strictly speaking, this should have been included along with management, cleanliness is so much a thing apart in importance from all other factors in the prevention of disease, that the strong emphasis of separate consideration is incumbent. Cleanliness means, simply and essentially, the absence of germs and the lack of means for their multiplication and development. Diseases " caused by germs make Tittle headway where cleanliness in all things prevails. Nothing more need be said on the subject of cleanliness if the fact is impressed that cleanliness in all things connected with horses —in their surroundings, their feeding and watering, their housing and paddocking, when working and when at rest—is above and beyond all things the most important factor in the preservation of health and the vigorous resistance of disease, and that it is the essential feature in the subjugation of the spread of infectious and contagious diseases and of the germs which cause them.