THB PONY. 



will be fully competent. The etceteras, however, cannot be so 

 confidently extended to the animal's eating and drinldng. Tliia 

 the owner had better look to himself, at least till his groom is 

 made thoroaghly to understand his master's wishes on the 

 subject. 



In the best-regulated stables the watering of the horse is 

 often seriously mismanaged: — ^As, says a reliable authority, 

 " the hind of water is not sufficiently considered. The difference 

 between hard and soft water is a circumstance of general 

 observation. The former contains saline principles which de- 

 compose some bodies, as in the curdling of soap ; and prevent 

 solution of others, as in the making of tea, the boiling of vege- 

 tables, and the process of brewing. It is natural to suppose that 

 the different kinds of water would produce somewhat different 

 effects on the animal frame ; and such is the fact. Hard water, 

 freshly drawn from the well, will frequently roughen the coat 

 of a horse unaccustomed to it, or cause griping pains, or mate- 

 rially lessen the animal's power of exertion. The racing and 

 hunting groom is perfectly aware of this ; and so is the horse, 

 for he will refuse the purest water from the well if he can obtain 

 access to the running stream, or even the turbid pool. Where 

 there is the power of choice, the softer water should undoubt- 

 edly be preferred. The temperature of the water is, however, 

 of far more consequence than its hardness. It will rarely harm 

 if it drinks from the pond or the running stream ; but its cold- 

 ness when recently drawn from the well is often injurious. It 

 has produced coUc, spasm, and even death. If, therefore, no 

 better can be had, it should bo exposed for some hours either 

 in the stable or in some tanks." 



The animal should not be irregularly supplied with water. 

 When it is at rest in the stable the quantity of water it will 

 consume may pretty safely be left to the animal itself; under 

 such an arrangement it will be found to consume less than 

 if allowed to grow very thirsty and then to take a " fuU swig." 

 In this latter case it behaves with no less prudence than dis- 

 tinguishes the conduct of a parched and thirsty man — ^it drinks 

 much more than is good for it. 



Before going a journey the pony may be allowed half a 



gallon of water, and he will certainly travel none the worse 



for it. At the end of the journey, or at the "bait" that 



breaks it, it is a good plan to give him a little water before 



his corn is offered to him, and a little more in the middle of 



the meal. 



7n 



