198 THROUGH STABLE AND SADDLE-ROOM. 



The hay should be divided so that the greater 

 portion remains for the night's feed. It is better, 

 if a horse is going out for work, that he should 

 have the lesser quantity of hay, inasmuch as his 

 wind will be the clearer for it. He may have 

 as much corn as he will eat, in moderation ; but 

 his hay should be somewhat stinted. Indeed, for 

 hunters, very little hay is required compared with 

 other horses, and so their corn may be well 

 increased. It is, however, always a good plan to 

 let a horse have a lock or two of hay when fasting, 

 as the stomach, being empty, is thereby better pre- 

 pared for the feed of corn which is to follow. The 

 greater quantity of hay may be well given at night, 

 inasmuch as there are several hours which must 

 necessarily elapse between the last feed at night 

 and the first in the morning ; and it is not natural 

 for a horse to fast for many hours. 



As regards the watering of horses before feeding, 

 the reason is a very simple one, and it is this : A 

 horse has two stomachs, or, I should say, what is 

 equivalent to two stomachs. All fluid is carried 

 through the first, or food stomach, into the second, 

 or what answers the purpose of a second, viz., the 

 caecum, or blind gut. Now, if the corn is given 

 first, before watering, the water must necessarily 

 pass through the corn in its passage to the caecum. 



