THE FEEDING OF HORSES 59 



more nutritious foods should be fed toward the end of the meal, 

 especially since some of the very important nutrients are largely 

 digested in the stomach and at the entrance of the small intes- 

 tines. 



Watering the horse. — Many feeders think that the horse 

 should be watered before feeding, while others are equally certain 

 that feeding should precede watering. Each of these methods 

 is probably equally good for the horse, and the one employed 

 will be determined by circumstances. Certain conditions may 

 make it necessary to adopt one, other conditions the other. For 

 example, after severe loss of water, such as occurs in consequence 

 of long-continued, severe exertion, the animal may perhaps be al- 

 lowed to drink before he is fed, otherwise hfe will not feed well. 

 On the other hand if permitted to drink to excess, this method 

 of watering affects the appetite, and the horse will not consume 

 so much food as he otherwise would. Again, it has been very 

 clearly demonstrated that if a horse is fed his grain first and then 

 watered, much of the food is carried by the water into the in- 

 testines. Since the grain of the ration is rich in digestible nu- 

 trients, it should stay in the stomach as long as possible, since the 

 digestion of one of the most important of the nutrients is more 

 complete there. From this it would seem that the horse should 

 be given water first of all, and that should be followed by hay, 

 the grain being withheld until at least a part of the hay has been 

 consumed. There are, however, very serious objections to this 

 practice, as the horse is unsatisfied, is anxious, and very nervous 

 till fed his grain, and should not be compelled to wait for the 

 grain. A middle ground should be taken by watering first, feed- 

 ing the grain sprinkled with a small allowance of moistened, 

 chopped hay, if possible, and watering again after the ration has 

 been consumed. If this practice is followed, it will satisfy the 

 desires of the horse by supplying the most palatable part of his 

 food early, and yet insure the retention of the grain in the stom- 

 ach for a considerable time. 



