72 Animal Husbandry 
These standards were arranged to meet the need of the average 
horse under normal conditions. They are to serve as guides, to 
be modified to meet conditions, and not as laws, fixed and absolute. 
126. Regularity in feeding. — The importance of regularity in 
everything that pertains to the management of the horse cannot 
easily be overestimated. This applies particularly to feeding. 
Whatever feeding-stuffs are employed in the ration, the horse 
should be fed regularly and uniformly at all times. The horse 
anticipates the feeding hour, and becomes nervous if it is delayed. 
He neighs and coaxes for his food with great regularity. The 
horse’s digestive system and his vital activities become accustomed 
to a certain order, which should be followed. To change the 
order for even a single meal produces more or less digestive 
disturbance. 
127. Order of supplying food. — Because of the small size of the 
horse’s stomach, the order of supplying grain, hay, and water 
assumes much importance. Investigators have shown that the 
stomach of the horse must fill and empty itself two or three times 
for each meal given. During the fore part of the meal the material 
is pushed into the intestines almost as soon as it enters the stomach 
by the food which follows, while toward the end of the meal, 
passage is slow and the digestion in the stomach more perfect. 
This being true, it would seem that the more nutritious foods 
should be fed toward the end of the meal, especially since some of 
the important nutrients are largely digested in the stomach and 
at the entrance of the small intestines. 
128. Watering the horse.— Many persons feed the horse 
before watering, while others water before feeding. There are 
objections to either method. For best results the horse should 
be watered both before and after feeding. When thus watered 
he will not drink to excess. 
129. Salt. — This should be kept before the horse at all times. 
While little is known from investigations on this subject, it is. 
evident from the extreme fondness of the horse for salt that it 
