INTERIOR ECONOMY AND SUPPLY 39 



having all the above impressed on him by the 

 master, and with many, very many, it is absolutely 

 necessary to do so if you want your horses to be 

 fit, and free from colic, inflammation of the intes- 

 tines, etc. 



The ignorance of so-called grooms is astounding, 

 and the old-fashioned ideas of " I will give him some 

 water when he is cool," or *' when he has eaten his 

 feed," still prevail. 



Why they did not, and do not, kill more horses 

 than they did and do, can only be regarded as one 

 more example of how well outraged Nature adapts 

 herself to circumstances. 



It is, therefore, not only necessary for the young, 

 and indeed every horse-owner, to be able to lay 

 down the law, but he must also be able to explain 

 why he does so, or what he says will be put down as 

 " My bloke's fads." 



He must be able to say, " You must feed early, 

 because a horse's stomach is empty long before 

 morning." 



" You must feed at least four times a day, because 

 a horse's stomach is very small." 



" You must not give water directly after food, 

 because it may wash undigested food into the 

 wrong place and give the horse what you would 

 call 'gripes' (i.e. colic)." 



" You must water and feed regularly, because if 

 you do not a horse expects and pines for his food, 

 and so loses condition." 



"You must look for stones, etc., in his oats, 



