FOODS AND FEEDING. I23 



This can only be satisfactorily accomplished where men are impressed 

 with the benefit to be derived from a practice which gives them extra 

 trouble, and they should be fully instructed in the reasons of insisting 

 on it. A full rack may be given in the evening without wasting as 

 much as would be the case in the day ; the horses are quieter, not so 

 greedy, and have more time to consume it. 



The following distribution of a day's ration may be taken as a Distribu- 

 guide, but officers are expected to exercise their discretion in adapting tion of 

 their feeding arrangements to the requirements of the work performed ^^^Y 

 at the time : — 



Morning (before work), oats 3 lb. (mixed with chaff) Hay, a small hand- 

 ful. 

 Mid-day (after „ ), „ 3 ,, ( „ „ " ) 1 ^^Y continuously 



Evening „ 4 „ ( „^ „ ,, ) J till evening stables. 



when the remainder may be given. 



If it is not possible to feed the hay as above, then give half at 

 mid-day, and half at evening stables. 



When the corn ration is more than 12 lb. it is better to feed four 

 times instead of three. 



Principles of Feeding. 



As the result of experience three rules have been laid down as 

 guiding principles in feeding : — 



( 1 ) Water before feedmg. 



(2) Feed in small qicantities aiid often. 



(3) Do 7iot work hard immediately after a full feed. 



(i) Water before feeding. — This is the established custom in the Water 

 service, but it is not invariably followed outside the army, although very before 

 general. The reasons for its adoption are as follows : — The horse *^^ding. 

 drinks very rapidly, and in large gulps ; the water runs quickly through 

 the gullet, stomach, and small bowel into the water-gut. If you put 

 your ear to the side of a horse drinking, the rushing of the water 

 can be heard. Such a stream passing through an already full stomach 

 would wash a considerable portion of the contents with it into the bowel, 

 and if the meal is only just finished, they would not be sufficiently mixed 

 with the gastric juice. As a consequence their digestion would be 

 incomplete, and this means an avoidable loss of nourishment, and, 

 perhaps, indigestion and colic. Some owners make a practice of 



