WATER. 287 



such importance ought not to remain unknown. We want to 

 know whether a horse acquires more speed, power, or endu- 

 rance, when his daily allowance of water is limited, than 

 when he has water always before him, to take in such meas- 

 ure, and in such quantities, as he pleases. Stable usages are 

 bo often founded on ignorance and hypothesis, that we may 

 well be excused for sometimes doubting their propriety, even 

 when subsequent investigation proves them correct. 



It is certain, however, that a horse can be trained to 

 dispense with a considerable portion of the water that he 

 is accustomed to take when left to himself. By giving 

 the water in four or five services, he will drink a little less 

 than if it were given only thrice. But the quantity may be 

 further reduced, so that in the course of two or three weeks? 

 the horse will not desire more than two thirds of the quantity 

 he formerly consumed. Whether this be right or wrong, is 

 as I have said, not settled ; but it can be done. The quantity 

 must be diminished by slow degrees, not all at once, and sc 

 much must not be withheld on any day as to make the hors* 

 refuse his grain. At the end of a period varying from twf 

 weeks to four, the horse becomes accustomed to the spare 

 allowance of water. He drinks less than formerly. The 

 system, perhaps, learns to be more economical in the con- 

 sumption of fluid. Less urine and less perspiration may be 

 made, and less vapor may be exhaled from the lungs. 



When the daily supply of water is very materially dimin- 

 ished, the horse refuses to feed. He eats some, but not so 

 much as he should. He soon loses flesh, and becomes unfit 

 for work ; and he does not recover until he either gets more 

 water, or until the system learns to do without that which is 

 denied. A certain quantity must be allowed, for the system 

 can not carry on its operations without it. When Mr. Lyon 

 first built his stables at Paisley, the well did not yield suffi- 

 cient water, and the horses were kept on short allowance. In 

 eight days they were not like the same animals ; they were 

 lean, dull, and feeble, and did not recover till more water was 

 obtained. 



Modes of Watering. — When the horse is at home, he is 

 watered either in the stable from a pail, or in the yard from a 

 trough, which, in racing establishments, is provided with a 

 stout lockfast cover as security against poisoning. In gen- 

 eral the horse seems to care little how he gets the water : 

 but some will drink only from the trough, except when very 

 thirsty. I know of no objection to the trough, provided it be 



