62 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



they may at all times be permitted to drink freely of water that is of 

 the same temperature as that of the air. 



In taking horses to water, they should go at a walk. There should 

 be no crowding or hurrying, and each animal should be given plenty 

 of time to drink his fill. 



In camp, where water is obtained from a river or a stream, horses 

 must be watered above the place designated for bathing and for 

 washing clothing. 



In watering from streams whose bottoms are of mud or fine sand, 

 causing the water to become roily, buckets or improvised troughs 

 should be used . 



155. Feeding 1 . Forage is any food suitable for horses and can 

 be divided into two general classes, hay and grain. The ration must 

 be sufficiently bulky to keep the stomach and intestines partially 

 filled at all times, as the process of digestion is best carried out in 

 this state. Without sufficient bulk, conditions can not be main- 

 tained, no matter how nourishing the food. 



The capacity of the horse's stomach is small in comparison to his 

 size. He therefore requires to be fed frequently. 



156. Feeding- tired horses. Exhausting work has a temporary 

 weakening effect on the digestion, and tired horses should be allowed 

 to recover from its effect before they are given a heavy feed of grain. 

 Give such animals plenty of tepid water, a few pounds^ of hay, and 

 good care until the system has recovered from exhaustion. 



Animals that have been kept, from food for a long time should 

 first be watered and given a small feed of hay to partially fill the 

 stomach before feeding grain. 



157. Feeding Jiay. It is best not to give any hay at the feed 

 immediately preceding the time at whic^h animals are to be required 

 for work, especially work at the fast gaits. When the work is done 

 mostly in the morning, 3 to 4 pounds of hay may be fed to advantage 

 with the noon feed of grain, the remainder of the hay ration being 

 given with the evening feed. 



158. Feeding grain. Grain should be fed three times daily, 

 giving the largest feed at night. Should it become necessary to 

 change the grain ration, as from oats to corn, the allowance of grain 

 should be cut down to one-half, and the amount gradually increased 

 until the animals become accustomed to it. When two different 

 grains, such as corn and oats, are issued, they should be fed sepa- 

 rately, feeding the corn at night as it takes longer to thoroughly 

 masticate and digest it. If corn and oats are fed together, the corn 



