The small size of a horse's stomach points to the conclusion, which experience verifies, that a horse should be frequently fed. On the other hand, the large volume of his caecum shows, as we have already seen, that although he requires a liberal supply of water, he does not need to drink nearly as often as he requires to eat, supposing, of course, that he is kept under ordinary conditions. For want of sufficient opportunities for making observations, I am unable to say positively how often horses require water daily, when they are in a state of nature; but am inclined to think that in such a case they would suffer no great hardship if they were watered only once a day, although watering them twice a day or allowing them free access to water would no doubt be the safer plan; for even if they did not drink as often as one expected, there would be no harm in offering water to them. I have found that ordinary hacks and horses in training for racing and steeplechasing often will not drink more frequently than twice a day, provided that at each time of watering they are given as much as they desire to have. I have known some of these horses make a habit of drinking only once a day. Young animals and brood mares, especially mares with a foal at foot, would require to drink oftener than others. Under severe conditions of work and atmospheric heat, it might be necessary for a horse to drink several times a day.

Change Of Water

Change of water is sometimes cited as a cause of indisposition in horses. The cases are generally those of racehorses which are said to have suddenly lost their "form," on account of broaching a new tap of drinking water at stables away from their home. Although I have travelled thousands of miles, from one country to another with horses, I have never met with the slightest difference in the health of these animals from change of water; provided, of course, that the water was good of its kind. To verify the accusation in question, one would have to eliminate all suspicion from the hay, corn, and sanitary conditions of the new abode. Until such a test has been made, the burden of proof rests on those who assert the affirmative. It is possible that horses which have been long accustomed to hard water might not at first freely drink soft water; and vice versa.