THE HORSE : ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 41 



I have had many horses under my care ever since I was 

 fourteen years old, and have never had one with the gripes. 

 Many people have lost their horses through this affection 

 When such is the case, I often put it down to not allowing the 

 horses to drink what they like, and keeping them too long 

 between the periods of drinking. I always try my horses 

 with water the last thing at night and the first thing in the 

 morning, besides two and three times during the day, even 

 if they are only in the stable and doing no work. I 

 recommend this system because I have found it answer so 

 well. If I am driving in the country and there is a pond 

 on the side of the road I let my horses drink what they 

 want. When I am boarding at any hotel and the ostler 

 comes up to take charge of my horse, I always say, " Give 

 him some water," and the answer I get is, " When he gets 

 cool, sir, not before, as it will give him the gripes," then I 

 say, " Give it to him at once, I will take all the responsi- 

 bility." I am usually inquisitive enough to ask why they 

 do not give the horses water when they come in ; in almost 

 every case the reply is, " We never let them drink when they 

 are hot if we can help it." " But do not the horses get hold 

 of the pail sometimes when you are looking away or 

 speaking to someone ? " " They are almost sure to have the 

 gripes if they do, sir, and that makes us a bit careful." 

 These are the answers I usually get from the ostlers and 

 those who have to attend to the horses. It is quite right 

 for them to be careful, because they have a great many 

 horses come into their hands, and not two out of every 

 hundred are allowed as much water as they like, 

 especially when they are hot. With my system, the 



