24 
PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
feed too soon after a hard day’s work. A very small quantity of^ liay 
may be given but grain should not be fed within less than an hour.” 
Referring to the system of watering, these same authorities write: 
“ . . . the horse should be watered at least three times a day when 
idle and oftener when at work. Remember always to water be¬ 
fore feeding.” The manner of watering the heated horse is explained 
by them in the following way: “It does not matter how much heated the 
horse may be, it is always better to give him a half dozen swallows of 
water. If this water is given just before being put in the stable, the 
animal should be immediately supplied with a few pounds of hay, and 
should not be fed grain until the animal has rested about an hour. The 
danger is not in the ‘first swallow’ but is always due to the large quantity 
which the animal will take when warm if allowed to drink without re¬ 
straint.” 
Henry and Morrison 63 points out that “Tangl of Budapest, whose in¬ 
vestigations -concerning the time of watering horses are the most complete 
of any recorded, found that horses may be watered before, after, or dur¬ 
ing meals without interfering with the digestion or the absorption of 
the food they eat.” They go on to say that all methods are equally good, 
tho circumstances may favor one over the other. A horse long deprived 
of water, or having undergone severe exertion, should be watered before 
getting his feed. An animal accustomed to a certain order of watering 
should not be changed to another order, for such change dimishes the 
appetite. Horses drink the greatest amount of water when it is given 
after they have been fed, and the least when it is supplied before they are 
fed. In some cases watering before feeding somewhat decreased the 
appetite.” And again they cite Tangl to show “that the only important 
point in this whole matter . . . is to 'adopt a reasonable, convenienl 
system of watering, and then rigidly adhere to it.” The same authors 
make the statement that “It is dangerous to allow a horse to gorge him¬ 
self with water when very warm, but a moderate drink taken slowly will 
refresh without harm resulting.” 
Another authority, Paige, 64 gives his view on the system of watering 
as follows: “Either water one-half hour before feeding or one hour after. 
If a large quantity of cold water is given just before eating, it predisposed 
to attacks of indigestion. The effect of the cold water in contact with 
the mucous membrane is to cause contraction of the blood vessels. This 
forces the blood away from the stomach and intestines. If, now, food is 
taken in, it cannot be digested, owing to absence of blood about the 
secreting glands. When cold water is taken a half hour before feeding 
the circulation of blood in the stomach and intestines becomes established, 
so that upon the arrival of the food the glands are in condition to per¬ 
form their function. When a horse is fed, and watered directly after¬ 
ward, the passage of the water through the stomach carried undigested 
food into the intestines, beyond the reach of the stomach and intestinal 
juices The irritation of the undigested food into the intestines may 
cause colic. When heated, small quantities of water may be allowed, but 
giving large amounts should be avoided.” 
Sanborn, 66 in his trials on the effect of time of watering on feeding, 
summarizes his results as follows: 
“I. Horses watered before feeding grain retained their weight better 
than when watering after feeding grain. 
“II. Horses watered before feeding had the better appetite or ate 
the most. 
“III. Horses watered after feeding grain, in ratio to the food eaten, 
seemed to digest it as well as those watered before feeding. In a prior 
trial there was a small apparent advantage in favor of feeding after 
watering, on digestion. 
“IV. It seems advisable to water both before and after feeding.” 
