26 



season of the year, temperature of the surrounding air, character of 

 the feed, the individual peculiarities of the horse, the amount and 

 character of the work performed, and probably others. The amount 

 of water needed increases with the temperature and with the amount 

 of work performed, since it is ver}^ evident that both of these factors 

 increase the amount which is given off from the body in the form of 

 perspiration. Muscular work also increases the amount of water 

 vapor excreted in the breath. 



It has been found that less water is required when the ration con- 

 sists largel}^ of concentrated feed than when large amounts of coarse 

 fodder are consumed, and it is a matter of common observation that 

 less water is consumed when green, succulent feeds form a consider- 

 able part of the ration than when it consists of dry feed. That the 

 amount. of water taken, even in dry feed, may be considerable is shown 

 by the fact that a ration of 12 pounds of oats and 15 pounds of hay 

 furnishes some 4 pounds of water. A succulent ration would furnish 

 much more. 



In general, a horse will drink from 50 pounds or less to 65 pounds 

 per day, though under the influence of warm weather or hard work 

 the amount may range from 85 to 110 pounds or over. In some 

 experiments in the British army it was found that when allowed to 

 choose, horses drank about one-fourth of their daily allowance in the 

 morning and not far from three-eighths at noon and about the same 

 proportion at night. 



In connection with a number of the tests at the experiment stations 

 in the United States the amount of water consumed has been recorded. 

 At the New Hampshire Station, on a ration of different grain mixtures, 

 with timothy ha}^ and corn fodder, the quantity of water varied from 

 71 to 90 pounds of water per head per day, both the ration consumed 

 and the amount of work performed influencing' the quantit}' of water 

 drunk, although the individuality of the horse had the most marked 

 effect. At the Utab Station it was found that larger amounts were 

 consumed on alfalfa hay with oats than on timothj" hay, the greater 

 consumption of water on the former ration inducing a greater elimi- 

 nation by the kidne3^s; but so far as could be observed this was not 

 attended by any bad results, nor was it found inconvenient. 



A pair of mules, at the Oklahoma Station, during the hot summer 

 weather, drank 113 pounds of water per head dailj^, and on one day 175 

 pounds. In another test, at moderate work, the amount recorded was 

 107 pounds. In these tests the grain ration consisted of Kafir corn, 

 maize, oats, and bran. 



The proper time to water horses is a matter concerning which 

 opinions differ. Many feeders believe that thc}^ sliould be watered 

 before feeding, Avhile others are equally certain that feeding should 

 precede watering. Some extended experiments have been recently 



