90 PUTTING INTO CONDITION. 



Water is usually given twice a-day ; first, after 

 morning's feed, and again between three and four 

 o'clock. They will often thrive very well on this, and 

 if offered it at other times, even in the hot weather, 

 will frequently refuse to sip any ; but a horse that is 

 out of condition, or one that is to be trained after he 

 is got into condition, will be better if water is allowed 

 oftener. Give a dhool, about three gallons, half an 

 hour before the morning's feed/' 5 " and another half an 

 hour after it ; a dhool at half past twelve, half an hour 

 before the one o'clock feed ; and another at half past 

 three. In the evening, when he comes in from walk- 

 ing, and is cool, offer half a dhool more, but do not 

 let him drink more than this at any one time. 

 Horses that are only watered twice a day will often 

 drink a bhsestees large dhool twice filled, six gallons 

 each time ; some will drink more, which, with their 

 bellies full of gram and grass, I have seen produce 

 most violent gripes, t Never allow the dhool to be 

 used for any other purpose than drinking, and then 

 the older it is the better. 



* I altogether disapprove of watering before feeding. * It dilutes the gastric 

 juice, and consequently weakens its action in digesting the food. I prefer giv- 

 ing a small quantity immediately after feeding, about a gallon, and the remain- 

 der in about an hour afterwards. I would always water three times a day. ED. 



* (Unless the horse has been long without water, and very thirsty, I 

 would then give a few mouthfuls.) ED. 



*t* Watering immediately after feeding on barley is said to often bring on 

 gripes and inflammation : this is far truer of wheat. A too sudden change of 

 food, from gram to barley, and then watering immediately after, may bring on 

 gripes and inflammation ; but then the sudden change of food is as much the 

 cause of the disease as the watering after. Watering immediately before or 

 immediately after any grain is unwholesome, and to some horses dangerous, 

 and after gram quite as much as after barley. Horses of delicate stomachs, 

 indeed all horses, should be watered half an hour before, and half an hour 

 after morning's feeding, to prevent the food swelling in the stomach too much. 



