THE HORSE. 39 



uneaten ; but not only will horses, if duly supplied with 

 water, consume the small quantity of hay allowed 

 them, but also a good proportion of their bedding. 

 Some persons may object to giving their horses an 

 unlimited quantity of water, from a notion that it may 

 cause too much purging. This idea, however, is not 

 founded in reason, because when the horse is abridged 

 of his due allowance of corn, he is apt to drink too 

 eagerly and too largely, if he have the oj^portunity and 

 there be no check imposed upon him ; but if he be 

 brought to a full allowance by degrees,water will have 

 no injurious effect upon the bowels. Begin by giving 

 him as much as he likes on a Saturday night ; then 

 tie a pailful in the corner all Sunday, until you start 

 again on Monday morning (this is under the suppo- 

 sition of your being a commercial traveller;) and 

 always after giving him water, to observe the direc 

 tions already recommended. The advantages de 

 rived therefrom will be soon experienced. Heed 

 not the opposition of ostlers and others, but look 

 yourself to your orders being properly obeyed. You 

 will then be amply compensated for your trouble, 

 by your horse being better able to go through with 

 his work, and by his lasting longer than he could 

 possibly do under the starving system. The prin- 

 cipal theories entertained by thousands upon this 

 question are pure absurdities. Nature is not guilty 

 of creating false appetites, when animals are in £ 

 state of health ; yet is she frequently accused by the 

 ignorant of this preposterous en-or. Stablemen arc 

 not so niuch to be blamed on this account, as tht 

 owners of horses ; the former not having meanB oi 

 knowing better equally with the latter : and being tb? 

 mere slaves of custom and prejudice. In their dietary 

 plan, they are clamorous and bigoted enemies H 

 all innovations. If owners of horses were but tru-^ 

 to themselves, and charitable to their beasts, the pra«> 

 tice of druggfing, or of giving them water of tho mo?< 



