The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-15
NO. Is
The Walking Horse.

The LSUe Stock Journal is glad to see
this subject is attracting general atten-
ton. No more important quality can be
added to the horse than that of walking
OH steadily at five or six mile gait, which
Is believed to be possible. We have a
great many horses in the country that
cannot get over six miles of ground in an
hour at any kind Of gait that will not
worry them. Yet the walking gait is the
one most used. and fast one is more i'm.
portant even at work than on the road
since comparatively small amount of
carriage travelling is done as compared
with work, including the hauling of heavy
loads on the read. The managers of fairs
have it in their power to do considerable
to awaken an interest in this question. by
encouraging competitions for premiums.
They may be for teams walking before
carriages. and teams walking before loads
thus including both the carriage and the
| draft horse.
The same paper asks; How do YOU
water your horse?" Do you expect your
horse, like camel, to lay in supply of
water to last it across the desert of an en-.
tire day? Doyou even expect it to 90 half
day without drinking, and all this time
draw the pillow or drag, in the blaze of
burning sun? If SO, you are all wrong.
The stomach of the horse, compared with
the size of the animal. is no larger than
that OF man. The horse perspires, as man
does, and as natural result it gets
thirsty the same. When you feel the need
OF drink because of heat and the loss of
moisture by perspiration, think of your
horse, which very likely is suffering the
same as you are. If not given sufficient
drink 1t will take in an enormous and in
furious quantity of water when it gets a
chance, drinking until its sides are ex-
tended and it is almost ready to split. It
then Is really In no fit condition for any,
thing until some of this water gets into
the circulation, cooling and refreshing
the feyered atoms of life, and the balance
Is thrown OF through the appropriate
organs. Then your horse is back again To
the normal condition of health and activ-
ity, and no longer feels loggy and lazy. as
II the whole system were ready to fall
apart. With the stomach and intestines
full OF water, the horse is not even ipa
condition to eat. The wash Of so mnch
water must both dilute and carry away
through the intestines the gastric iuices
designed for use In the digestive process.
Then give your horse frequent opportupi.
ties to drink. A few swallows as Won mt
It up at noon or night in the stable will do
1t good and help digestion, but eorginp
with water should be avoided. AS with
water, so with food. the small stomach y
the horse requiring comparatively concen-
trated food and at frequent intervals.
W hen you are at work or riding on n
road, and feel your own stomach eallino
for food. you may know your horse feels
The same need, as he is doing more exhaus.
tive work than you are. especially if Won
are riding. Working ON an empty stom-
ach IS drawing Oh the constitutional re-
source OF the body. Such drain should
oe avoided as much as possible, Reme,n.
Der, the animal nature of the horse ia very
much like that of the MAI for This reason
the horse requires food and drink with
the same frequency and regularity that
man does.