Gauteng Smallholder July 2017 | Page 25

HORSEMANSHIP A finely-tuned eating machine In trying to dissuade his son from becoming involved in the horse breeding and racing industries, Gary Player's father is said to have given his son the following advice: !Never keep anything that eats while you sleep." He knew what he was talking about, did Old Man Player, although his advice didn’t help ~ son Gary went on to become not only a world-champion golfer but also a leading and highly-successful racehorse breeder. H orse lovers who have spent time observing their animals will know that there is truth in this admonishment, for left to their own devices horses will eat for between twelve and 18 hours a day. These hours are broken up into about 15 to 20 grazing periods. It is unremarkable, therefore, that horse owners who understand how the horse's digestive system works are likely to have fewer digestive problems with their animals. Horses are herbivores ~ they are designed to eat plants, which should make up the horse's entire diet in one form or another. They are also non-ruminants, and have what is referred to as a “simple stomach” ie, one compartment that functions a lot like the human stomach. The anatomy of the horse's digestive tract is straightfor- ward. It is made up of: K the mouth and teeth, K oesophagus, K stomach, K small intestine, K cecum, K large colon, K small colon, K rectum, and, K anus. Digestion means the breaking C ontinued on page 26 BEEKEEPING From page 21 since 1918. The association went into recess from 1938 to touch with developments in 1946 during the war years the bee world. but reopened in 1946. There are three associations in Gauteng alone, colloquially Easterns meets at Highveld Honey Farms, 186 Uys Road, known as “Southerns,” Rynfield, Benoni on the third “Northerns” and “Easterns”. Southerns draws its member- Saturday of the month at 09h30. ship from Johannesburg, the The association's activities are West Rand and the South, Northerns draws its member- varied to cater for all aspects of beekeeping from beginners ship from the Pretoria area and Easterns covers from west to the “old hands,” and ladies, gents and juniors are of Kempton Park, east to all welcome. Waterval Boven, north to For more information: Peter Verwoerdburg and south to Clark, chairman, tel 011 362- Van der Bijl Park. Easterns has been in existence 2904 23 www.sasmallholder.co.za