WATER. 289 



belly, as the groom says ; but it prevents the evil effects 

 which I have adverted to, in connexion with the temperature 

 of water. Motion generates heat, and that which unites 

 with the cold water can be better spared than if the horse 

 were motionless. But the exercise need not be work. It is 

 sufficient if it produce the least perceptible increase of 

 warmth on the skin in 8 or 10 minutes. The man sometimes 

 starts from the water at a gallop, but no good groom is guilty 

 of this folly. Let the horse walk away for a few yards ; 

 from a walk he may proceed to a trot, and from that to a can- 

 ter. In warm weather a walk is sufficient, and the pace 

 need very seldom exceed a slow trot. The object is, not to 

 heat the horse, but to keep him warm, to prevent shivering. 



Water is not often given more than three times a day. But 

 in hot weather, when the horse sweats much, he often needs 

 more water than it is safe to give at only three services. He 

 should have it four or five times, and the oftener he gets it, 

 the less he will take at once. Under ordinary circumstan- 

 ces two rules will guide the groom. The first is, never to 

 let the horse get very thirsty ; the second, to give him water 

 so often, and in such quantity, that he will not care to take 

 any within an hour of going to fast work. Water should 

 always be given before rather than after grain. 



Broken-winded horses are usually much restricted in their 

 water. I know that in stage-coaching they are not the worse 

 of having as much as they please at night, provided it be 

 given at twice or thrice, and not too cold. 



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