160 ON THE STABLK. 



AV'rrii regard to water, horses generally pre- 

 fer that \^ hich is soft, and even thiek and mud- 

 dy. Soft water should therefore always he 

 given to them, if possible. The quantity should 

 be proportioned to the labour which the animal 

 undergoes, for if he sweats much, he will con- 

 sequently require more to repair the consump- 

 tion of the fluids of his body. It is customary 

 in hunting stables to warm the water before the 

 horse drinks it; this is a very bad practice, as it 

 renders him liable to be griped whenever he 

 drinks it in any other state. It certainly is not 

 prudent to give much cold water to a horse 

 when he is heated by exercise, but other periods 

 may be found when he may drink it with 

 safety. Grooms have a foolish habit of gallop- 

 ing horses immediately after drinking, with the 

 intention of warmins: the water in their stomachs. 

 By these unnecessary precautions, it would ap- j 

 pear that cold water was both unnatural and 

 prejudicial to the animal; but it can only be- 

 come so from his being rendered irritable and 



tender 



