220 THE HORSE 



additional room, there is no objection on that account. When a hirger 

 number of horses are stabled together, there is great difficulty in keeping 

 up an even temperature, unless, as in the case of omnibus and cab horses, 

 the same number are nearly always absent at work. In private stables, 

 however, all or nearly all the horses are often out at once, and then in a 

 large space the temperature is reduced so much, that when they return, 

 two or three at a time, followed by others, and compel the doors to be con- 

 stantly opened and shut, there is, first of all, danger of chilling each as he 

 comes in, and if he escapes this, of producing that injurious effect when 

 the next horse comes home. Practically it is found that the long row 

 of stalls does not conduce to the health of the horses, and although 

 it may please the eye of the master to look down a long line of valu- 

 able animals, this arrangement is by no means to be recommended. 

 Either two stalls with a loose box at one or both sides, or perhaps, as 

 I said before, even four stalls, with a similar arrangement of loose boxes, 

 should be the aim of the builder of a stable for general private work, 

 and in this, as v/ell as in all other cases, appearances should be sacrificed 

 to utility. 



STALLS versus LOOSE BOXES 



Foil HUNTERS AND RACE-HORSES, when they arc doing severe work, 

 tliere can be no doubt that the quiet and liberty allowed in a box are 

 far preferable to the restraint of a stall, where the horse is constantly 

 liable to be disturbed by the ingress and egress of men and horses. 

 In the stall, also, there must be a slope (though not necessarily a great 

 one), from before backwards, so as to provide for surface drainage ; and 

 this compels the horse who is tied to the manger to stand with his hind 

 feet lower than his fore, which is a tiresome position if continued for 

 any length of time, and which, therefore, induces so many to stand back 

 to the full length of their reins. But the horse is a social animal, and 

 does not like solitary confinement any more than the dog ; indeed, some 

 which will do well when placed in a stall, will even refuse their food, 

 and actually lose condition, if removed to a loose box, out of sight of 

 companions. If, therefoi'e, the quiet and comparative liberty of a loose 

 box can be combined with the society of the stall, the only objections 

 to each are got lid of, and the best kind of accommodation for the 

 horse is provided, though even in a loose box it is not always desirable 

 to leave the inmate loose. 



In large stables intended for business purposes, such as for omnibus, 

 cab, and wagon horses, loose boxes are out of the question, on account 

 of the area which they require, extra width being necessary for the horse 

 to turn round in, inasmuch as he cannot in them put his head over the 

 travis, as he always does while turning in a stall. A full-sized animal 

 must have his box at least 1 feet wide by 1 2 feet long, which gives an 

 area of 120 superficial feet, instead of 80 or 85, the area required for a 

 six-foot stall, including the gangway. Indeed, the above dimensions are 

 scarcely large enough for a box, a roomy one being from 15 to 18 feet 

 long by at least 10 feet wide. Again, the consumption of straw in a box 



