WATERING. 129 



amount of work, and the addition of beans or peas to their rations is an 

 excellent practice when hard work is demanded. 



Watering. 



Qiumtity required. — According to the temperature and work horses Quantity 

 will require anything from five to fifteen gallons a day, an average required, 

 quantity being eight. Hot weather and hard work, or both combined, 

 will nearly double ordinary requirements, and in making any calculation 

 of the amount required these factors must be considered. 



Quality of water. — Horses are said to prefer soft water, but it is not Quality of 

 a point of much practical importance, for most stabled horses are given water, 

 hard water and thrive on it, and the best horse-breeding districts are 

 those with a limestone foundation where a great deal of the water is 

 hard. It should in any case be fresh, pure, and well aerated, free from 

 taste, smell and colour. 



VVateri77g trougJis should be of sufficient height to prevent restless Watering 

 animals pawing over the rim and should not present any sharp angles or troughs, 

 corners. The depth of water need not be great, eight or ten inches 

 being sufficient if the supply is free enough to maintain it whilst the 

 trough is in use, but it should be broad and allow at least a yard of 

 length for each animal. 



Periods of watering. — The structure of the horse's bowels is adapted Periods of 

 for taking in large quantities of water at comparatively infrequent watering, 

 intervals. Three times daily may be counted an average number. In 

 cool weather and when not at work horses will themselves drink only 

 twice daily, but under such conditions they get a good deal of moisture 

 from their grazing. In work, especially when weather is warm, four 

 times daily should be the rule. Water should be given previous to 

 feeding (p. 123). 



Horses should not be watered for at least an hour after feeding, but 

 they may be allowed to drink freely whilst at work, even though sweating. 

 If brought in hot they may be watered immediately, but should be kept 

 moving until they have cooled down. The idea that horses require 

 chilled water is a fallacy. The London cab-horse drinks ice-cold water 

 in the winter, after working hard, and stands still in the street for hours 

 afterwards without ill-effects. 



Care should be taken not to allow too many horses to water at once, 

 only such number as there is plenty of room for being taken to the 

 trough. They should be allowed ample time to drink their fill and not 

 (b 10948) I 



