64 THE TRAIL TO WATER 



of the reserve food has taught the horse to 

 adapt his stomach to a change of diet. 



Compared with farm land the range has 

 very Httle food to the acre, supports only a 

 small population of grazing beastSf and, in its 

 distances between food and water, has trained 

 the horse to a deal of exercise as well as to 

 endurance of thirst. On the other hand the 

 needs of travelling for water and of grazing 

 have reduced his time for sleep to about three 

 and a half hours per day, which he takes 

 standing, however weary, unless he is quite 

 confident as to safety and kind treatment. In 

 brutally managed stables horses are apt to 

 sleep standing, because they are not off guard. 



At first glance, too, the water on level range, 

 however distant from the edge of grass may be 

 safely visited. Yet as one approaches the 

 stream by slopes of the usual coulee, densely 

 bushed with poplar and wild fruit trees ; or, 

 coming down open grass, enters a grove of 

 Cottonwood along the level bottom, one begins 

 to note that the horses appear to be nervous. 

 A bunch of loose ponies will let the wisest mare 

 scout ahead while they string out in single file 

 to follow all alert, picking their way most 

 delicately, pointing their ears at all sorts of 

 smells and sounds, and glancing backwar^j 



