THE HORSE. 35 



Nature never errs, yet are ostlers determined to act 

 in direct hostility to her dictates. One quantity of 

 water, and one only, is almost invariably doled out, 

 without the least reference to the actual staXe or wants 

 of the animal. No matter what he may really re- 

 quire, what exercise he may have undergone, or how 

 far the animal fluids may have been expended, 

 they have but one rule under all circumstances. 

 By a sort of reasoning peculiar to themselves, they 

 have been brought^to believe that the faster a horse 

 has been driven, and the greater the distance, so, in 

 proportion, he ought to be stinted of this indispensa- 

 ble element — water. Nor does the length of time 

 which the horse may have been deprived of liquid 

 sustenance at all enter into the stableman's calcula- 

 tions. If the animal may chance to have gone 

 without his usual supply at the regular hour, the ostler 

 will never allow him to make up for his involuntary 

 abstinence. It might be thought that gentlemen not 

 themselves averse to some refreshing beverage, 

 would bestow more thought in this respect upon 

 their four-footed companions ; but whether they are 

 conscious, from experience, that over-drinking is 

 injurious to the health and constitution, or from a 

 rooted aversion to pure water passing down their 

 own throats, and so apply the same reasoning to 

 their poor beast, is a question hardly worth the 

 inquiry. ^ One thing, however, they should not 

 forget, viz. that quadrupeds have not the same 

 incitements, or inclination, to go to excess, as bipeds 

 have. The former only drink as nature requires, 

 the latter yield to the temptation, both from desire 

 and habit, on every fi'ivolous pretence, until the re- 

 sult is, in numberless instances, the most disgusting 

 debauchery. The horse requires water for the fol- 

 lowing purposes : to quench his thirst; to assist diges- 

 tion ; to dilute the blood and fluids, and to promote 

 the natural secretions. By depnving him, therefore. 



