The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-06-19
Watering Horses.

Since the introduction of moving
and reaping machines, the work in
harvest is comparatively light howe
yer, every farmer who has Graded
heavy wheat or mown lodged grass,
in company with durable and skillful
workmon, must know something about
excessive thirst, and what dreadful
punishment it war in those circum-
stances to work half an hour or even
fifteen minutes without water, through
whose cooling and refreshing infuen-
ccs alone he would be enabled to con-
tinue his work, and also that at such
work he would require water every
hour, whereas at more moderate work
he could do perhaps with two drinks
between meals.
The principles that apply TO the
master are equally applicable TO his
horse. Their thirst is increased in
proportion to the severity of the work
and the temperature Of the weather.
Hence the necessity and duty of the
owner seeing well to the frequent and
imperativewants of the noble Though
dumb) animal, whose life. whose COM
fort and future usefulness depend so
much upon the humanity of his pres
cnt master.
1t was stated that horse watered
but three times n dav would not sweat
so much as those watered oftener.
which was therefore used as an argu-
ment in favor of that practice. Ad-
mlttlng the truth of the above asser-
ton, 1t does not follow that his COM
fort Is promoted, nor Yet his power of
endurance increased thereby. No
good driver would think of speeding
his horse without first sweating him
thoroughly. For does a man feel
comfortable in the harvest field until
his garments become mist with per
spiration, which carries off the sur
plus heat, thus controlling the temper
ature of the body, and to a great ex-
tent neutralizing the effects ofthe sun.
Men working at furnaces drink
freely and perspire profusely, without
which the skin would actually burn
OH them, and those who do not per-
splre cannot endure the heat. and are
obliged to seek other employment. II.
therefore, n horse ceases to sweat from
absence Of moisture in the system. it
l. the most positive proof he needs
water; that he is in a suffering and
dangerous condition. and. every mo-
ment it is kept from him is only ad-
ding fuel to the flame. which would
m a short time OF continued eXertion
terminate his existence As often
said, a horse NAV look well and ap-
pear 10 dowell with such treatment .
nevertheless his life, like that Of many
men, Is shortened and rendered mis-
cradle by irregularities.
In the absence of other proof. we
think the following facts sufficient to
prove our position, namely; that in
the long DAYS of summer. farm horses
should have water at least five times
a dav.
When a horse has worked two or
three hours and sees water or hears
It's peculiar sound so grateful to the
thirsty animal. he will look. and often
call for IT in way quite as intelligi-
ble 10 the human and those familiar
with his habits. as if he were to ex-
press his desire in plain English
And again. give him his liberty after
working three hours. and he will go
directly to his trough and supply the
demands of nature. Now when his
thirst is so great in moderate weather
with three hours eXertion, what must
be his condition in six or seven hours
one of those sultry, oppressive davs
We frequent Y experience in the latter
part of the summer.
1t Is true horses are sometimes in
jured by water. but it is when they
have been too long without it and
when their respiration is very rapid.
Nor is 1t strange under such circum-
stances he would drink too much.
when man endowed with reason will
do the same. Ii is no uncommon
thing in harvest to hear men say.
don't feel well, | worked too long
without water, and when | got it,
drank too much.
Our practice when travelling has
been to ride or drive slowly a short
time before watering, which we would
do as often as we thought the horse
was thirsty, and in the evening we
would 90 very leisurely after water
ing Il mile or two of our destination,
thus bringing the horse into his
nights quarters in good condition.