THE nOKSE. 45 



is natural to suppose that these different kinds of water would produce 

 somewhat different effects on the animal frame ; and such is the fact. 

 Hard water, freshly drawn from the well, will frequently roughen the 

 coat of the horse unaccustomed to it, or cause griping pains, or materi- 

 ally lessen the animal's power of exertion. The racing and the hunting 

 groom are perfectly aware of this ; and so is the horse, for he will refuse 

 the purest water from the well, if he can obtain access to the running 

 stream, or even the turbid pool. Where there is the power of choice, 

 the softer w^ater should undoubtedly be preferred. 



The temperature of the water is of lar more consequence than its 

 hardness. It will rarely harm, if taken fi'om the pond or the running 

 stream, but its coldness when recently drawn from the well has often 

 been injurious; it has produced colic, spasm, and even death. 



There is often considerable prejudice against the horse being fairly 

 supplied with water. It is supposed to chill him, to injure his wind, or 

 to incapacitate him for hard work. It certainly would do so if, imme- 

 diately after drinking his fill, lie were galloped hard, but not if he were 

 suffered to quench his thirst more frequently when at rest in the stable. 

 The horse that has free access to w'ater will not drink so much in the 

 course of a day as another, who, in order to cool his parched mouth, 

 swallows as fast as he can, and knows not when to stop. 



A horse may with perfect safety be far more hberally supplied with 

 water than he generally is. An hour before his work comniences, he 

 should be permitted to drink a couple of quarts. A greater quantity 

 might probably be objected to. He will perform his task far more 

 pleasantly and effectively than with a parched mouth and tormenting 

 thirst. The prejudice both of the hunting and the training groom on 

 this point is cruel, as well as injurious. The task or the journey being 

 acconiplished, and the horse having had his head and neck dressed, his 

 legs and feet washed, before his body is cleaned he should have his 

 water. When dressed, his grain may be offered to him, which he will 

 readily take ; but water should never be given immediately before or 

 after the grain. 



GROOMING. — Of this little need be said to the agriculturist, since cus- 

 tom, and apparently without ill effect, has allotted so little of the comb 

 and brush to the farmer's horse. The animal that is worked all day 

 and turned out at night, requires little more to be done to him than to 

 have the dirt brushed off his limbs. Regular grooming, by rendering 

 his skin more sensible to the alteration of temperature, and the inclem- 

 ency of the weather, would be prejudicial. The horse that is alto- 

 gether turned out, needs no grooming. The dandriff, or scurf, which 

 accumulates at the roots of the hair, is a provision of nature to defend 

 him from the wnnd and the cold. 



It is to the stabled horse, highly fed, and little or irregularly worked, 

 that grooming is of so much consequence. Good rubbing with the 

 brush, or the curry-comb, opens the pores of the skin, circulates the 

 blood to the extremities of the body, produces free and healthy per- 

 spiration, and stands in the room of exercise. No horse will carry a 

 fine coat without either unnatural heat or dressing. They both effect 

 the same purpose ; they both increase the insensible persiration ; but 



