WATERING THE HORSE. 439 



GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF HORSES, 



The watering of the horse is a verj important but disre- 

 garded portion of his general management. The kind of water 

 has not been sufficiently considered. The difference between 

 what is termed hard and soft water is a circumstance of general 

 observation. The former contains certain saline principles which 

 decompose some bodies, as appears in the curdling of soap, and 

 prevent the decomposition of others, as in the making of tea, 

 the boiling of vegetables, and the process of brewing. It is 

 natural to suppose that these different kinds of water would 

 produce somewhat different effects on the animal frame ; and 

 Buch is the fact. Hard water, freshlj drawn from the well, 

 will frequently rouglien the coat of the horse unaccustomed to 

 it, or cause griping pains, or materially lessen the animal's 

 power of exertion. The racing and the hunting groom are per- 

 fectly aware of this ; and so is the horse, for he will refuse the 

 purest water from the well, if he can obtain access to the 

 running stream, or even the turbid pool. Where there is the 

 power of choice, the softer water should undoubtedly be pre- 

 ferred. 



The temperature of the water is of far more consequence 

 than its hardness. It will rarely harm, if taken from the pond 

 or the running stream, but its coldness when recently drawn 

 from the well has often been injurious ; it has produced colic, 

 spasm, and even death. 



There is often considerable prejudice against the horse being 

 fairly supplied with water. It is supposed to chill him, to in- 

 jure his wind, or to incapacitate him for hard work. It cer- 

 tainly would do so if, immediately after drinking his fill, he 

 were galloped hard, but not if he were suffered to quench his 

 thirst more frequently when at rest in the stable. The horse, 

 that has free access to water, will not drink so much in the 

 course of a day as another, who, in order to cool his parched 

 mouth, swallows as fast as he can, and knows not when to stop. 



A horse may, with perfect safety, be far more liberally sup- 

 plied with water than he generally is. An hour before his 

 work commences, he should be permitted to drink a couple 



