A Saddle-Horse being but of little service during November, December, January, and February, during these four Months Economical Equestrians send their Nags to a Straw-Yard.
Sportsmen say, that nothing does a Horse more good than a Winter’s Run once in Two or Three years—it far exceeds turning to Grass in Summer, when the Flies are troublesome.
The Price at Straw-Yards varies from 3s. 6d. to 5s. a week, depending upon the Straw, which is contingent on the Corn Crops: some Horses sleep in at Night, and have Hay given them, or at least ordered for them, in which case, 7s. per Week is charged.
| £ | s. | d. | |
| The Straw-Yard for one Horse, for 17 Weeks, say at 4s. 6d. per Week, will be | 3 | 16 | 6 |
This Holiday is very beneficial to the Horse, especially to his Legs and Feet, which, when worn down by hard work, or cut up by flinty Roads or bad Shoeing, are thereby greatly refreshed and strengthened.
“Rest makes a New Horse.”
For the remaining 35 Weeks, the allowance of Provisions per week cannot be less than
| £ | s. | d. | |
| 1 Truss of Straw[2], at 36s. per Load | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Truss and a half of hay, at £5 per Load | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| ¾ peck of Oats per Day, is per Week 5¼ pecks, and at 25s. per Quarter | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Food per Week | 0 | 9 | 4 |
| 35 | |||
| —————— | |||
| Food for 35 Weeks | 16 | 6 | 8 |
| Expense of Horse in Straw-Yard, brought forward | 3 | 16 | 6 |
| Taking to and from the Straw-Yard | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| —————— | |||
| Annual Keep | 20 | 13 | 2 |
| A Saddle-Horse, on an average, is shod about Once in four weeks, and the set of Shoes costs 5s.; Nine Sets of Shoes | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| The Annual Duty | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| —————— | |||
| Annual Expense | £24 | 6 | 11 |
| —————— | |||
Obs.—This Allowance for Provision is hardly sufficient for Horses that do hard work, which require a Peck of Oats per Day, a Truss and a half of Straw, the same of Hay, with some good Chaff, and occasionally a little Bran; also a handful of Beans in Wet Weather, especially to Horses that work at Night.