Stable Management. 7 J 



just cooling down from his exertions. If, however, chilled 

 water is generally given, it should be rigidly adhered to 

 when the horse is travelling, for an animal used to it is far 

 more likely to be injured by cold water given when in a 

 sweat than the one which habitually swallows it at a low 

 temperature with his ordinary food. 



The quantity of water proper for the horse varies very 

 much, depending upon his tendency to purge, upon the 

 amount of sweat which he loses in his work, and upon the 

 nature of his work. About from one-and-a-half to two 

 ordinary buckets per day is the average for private stables, 

 depending upon the size of the horse and the severity of 

 his work ; and if water is allowed to stand constantly in 

 the stall, few healthy horses will drink more than two 

 buckets per day. About half-a-bucket is generally given 

 in the morning, another half in the afternoon, and the re- 

 mainder the last thing at night. More than a couple of 

 quarts should never be given on the road, even on the hot- 

 test day ; but this quantity may be repeated every five or 

 six miles with advantage if the weather is very sultry, with 

 or without a little oatmeal. It is seldom advisable to give 

 the full quantity of water immediately before or after the 

 feed of oats, but rather to let the horse drink about two 

 quarts, and half an hour after his feed to let him have the 

 remainder. But if the oats are not given for half an hour, 

 the water will not hurt if all is given at once. Many peo- 

 ple prefer a constant supply by means of a water-manger 

 kept full. 



Where practicable it will be better for the horse to have 

 water constantly by him in a small tank for the purpose, 

 that he may drink when he feels disposed ; when such is 

 the case, he drinks less than, when it is offered to him at 

 stated times. 



In stables unfitted with tanks the water must be taken 

 to the horse not less than four times a day, and he then 

 may be allowed to take as much as he pleases in mode- 

 ration. 



Dirty pond-water should always be strictly avoided, as 

 it is often a source of filth and putridity, and likely to cause 

 disease. Hard pump-water is often injurious at first till 



