182 THE HORSE. 



If salt is given, it will produce considerable thirst at first, but 

 after a time this effect ceases, and I have not found it in the long 

 run make much difference. Green food will also make less altera- 

 tion in the desire for water than might be expected, which may 

 be accounted for by the fact that it increases the secretions of 

 urine and perspiration, and also acts gently on the bowels; so 

 that, though more fluid is taken into the system with the green 

 food, yet a proportionably large quantity passes off. It is, how- 

 ever, necessary to be cautious in the allowance of water to horses 

 which have just begun to eat grass, for if given in the usual quan- 

 tity on a stomach full of green food, it will very probably bring 

 on an attack of colic. As a rule, no horse should go to any 

 moderately fast work with more than half a bucket of water in 

 him, and that should have been swallowed at least an hour. This 

 subject, however, will be better considered under the next head. 



The quality of water best suited to the horse is one mode- 

 rately soft, but it should not be rain water collected in tanks, 

 which soon becomes full of decomposing vegetable matter. I have 

 known the health of a whole stable full of horses seriously injured 

 by using rain water, as was proved by the fact that its filtration 

 through charcoal, gravel, and sand soon restored the animals to a 

 fair state of health, without any alteration in their solid food or 

 work. On the other hand, very hard water disagrees almost to 

 an equal extent, often producing the state of the skin known as 

 " hide-bound," and sometimes affecting the bowels in the form of 

 serious diarrhoea. But in course of time most sound horses be- 

 come accustomed to hard water, and then a change to that which 

 is soft must be carefully avoided whenever work is to be demanded 

 of them. Thus in sending hunters or harness-horses used in fast 

 work from home, when they have been accustomed to either kind 

 of water, it often happens that their health is upset, and this is 

 quite as likely to occur when the change is from hard to soft, as 

 from soft to hard water. Trainers of valuable race-horses are so 

 aware of this fact, that irrespective of the risk of poisoning, which 

 they thereby avoid, they take water with them, knowing the inju- 

 rious effects likely to be produced by a sudden change. 



The proper temperature of the water given in the stable 

 IS a matter of serious importance, and the effect of a bucketful of 

 cold water to a horse just come in from his work is very serious. 

 Even in a state of rest cold water will often produce cramp or colic, 

 so that careful grooms never give it by any chance without warm- 

 ing it, either by the addition of a little hot water, called " chilling" 

 it, or by letting it stand for some hours in the stable or saddle- 

 room. If the former method is adopted, it should not be made to 

 feel actually warm, for in that state it nauseates a delicate feeder, 



