A farmer could not well raise crops or do other work on the farm without horses. They are also much used in the cities.

Horses are a source of pleasure, too, as well as profit. Who does not enjoy driving a spirited

team? How delightful, also, to ride through the fields on the back of a good traveler!

A

Earth makes the best floor for the stable. plank floor is too hard. A horse will tire standing on a plank floor; the feet will grow tender, and the limbs become swollen. If possible, the horse should have a fresh bed of clean straw every night. Most horses like to be curried or rubbed with a cloth or a soft brush.

The animal's body should be kept as clean and free from dirt as possible. A clean stall and wholesome food go far toward keeping a horse in good health.

2.

A horse should be given plenty of hay and some grain each day. An occasional change in food may improve his health and appetite. In changing from one kind of grain to another, care will be necessary that too much grain is not given at one time.

The hay that a horse eats should be as free from dust as possible, because musty or dusty hay

is injurious and will produce a disease called "heaves." Wild or prairie hay is desirable food, because it is usually free from dust. Timothy hay is excellent and is very generally used. When at hard labor a horse needs more grain than when not working; but he requires plenty of hay, whether at work or at rest.

Impure water is even more injurious than impure food. Food and water should be given at regular intervals. The horse that is not fed or watered at regular intervals is likely to overeat or overdrink. Overeating may result in what is called a grain founder. Overdrinking may result in a water founder. A horse may also be foundered if he is fed or watered when he is too warm. When foundered he will show lameness and a stiffness in the limbs.

3.

1. About how many ears of corn should be given to a horse at one feed when he is being worked or used?

2. How many if he is not being worked?

3. Should you give as many large ears at one time as you would small ones?

4. Should you feed a small horse as many ears as you would a large one?

5. Why not feed a horse corn that has the husks on?

6. What care should be observed in putting hay into a manger?

7. About what quantity of oats should be given at one time?

8. What is "chopped" food or chop?

9. How much chop should be given at one time? 10. Why give chopped food when the horse's teeth get sore or short?

II.

11. Why should the bridle not be left on when the horse is fed?

12. Do all horses drink well with bridle bits in their mouths?

13. Why is it sometimes dangerous to water a healthy horse at a public watering trough? 14. Why should a leaden pipe never be used in conveying water for man or beast to drink?

15.

How often should a horse have water and food?

16. Draw the plan of your barn at home.

17. Draw another convenient plan.

18. Show the convenient features of each plan. 19. What should be the length, width, and height

of a stall for one horse?

20. Why should the stall be so much higher than the horse?

LESSON III.

THE HORSE (Continued).

I.

Sometimes a horse is made lame in shoeing. The shoe may be too narrow at the heel and cause the hoof to bind; or it may be too small for the hoof, producing fever and lameness; or in putting on a shoe, a nail may split and one part may go too far up into the hoof.

SPLIT HORSESHOE NAILS.

A shoe that is too heavy tires the horse and may injure the hoof. Shoes should not remain too long on the hoof after any shoeing, because the hoof is constantly growing and in a few weeks will outgrow the shoe.

Care, too, should be observed in adjusting the harness. If the collar is too tight, the horse cannot breathe well; he will experience a sense of choking and will soon fag; he will have less endurance than he would have if he could breathe freely. A collar

that is too tight will pinch the neck and injure the shoulder. Injury to the shoulder may result also from the use of a collar that is too loose.

A collar that fits in the spring, when the horse is in good flesh, may be so large as to require the use of a collar pad after the animal has been worked for a few weeks and has lost flesh. Sweeney is an injury to the shoulder most commonly attributed to the use of a collar that is too large; this injury, however, may also be produced by a sprain, a bruise, hard usage, etc.

2.

Every horse has a certain swing of the head as he travels. If reined too high, he loses the free use and swing of the head, and cannot see so well where to step; traveling then becomes more tire

some.

Laborers do not wear tight clothing on any part of the body, but dress so that they will have the use of every limb, and so that no muscle will be bound or placed in a strained position. A horse should be so harnessed that every muscle may be brought into free use and so that no part of the harness will obstruct breathing, or circulation, or movement of limb.

If a "blind" bridle is used, the "blinds" should not be so drawn together as to shut out the light