360 MANUAL OF MODERxN FARRIERY. 



If the hay is kept in a loft over the stable, there should 

 nc no holes over the racks for throwing down the hay, as by 

 these openings foul air Avill be carried up to the hay. and 

 render it unwholesome. And besides, it not unfrequeutly 

 happens that seeds fall down into the eyes of the horse, and 

 occasion serious inflammation in them. 



While the floor of the stalls should be so constructed that 

 the urine will be speedily carried off, yet a little reflection 

 will show that the practice of making them gradually slope 

 from the stall to the outside is very prejudicial to the horse, 

 and too frequently the cause of lameness by straining 

 the back sinews, that is, the tendo achilles. ]\Ir. Lawrence 

 justly remarks, that " If the reader will stand for a few 

 minutes with his toes higher than his heels, the pain he 

 will feel in the calves of his legs will soon convince him of 

 the truth of this remark, ilence, when a horse is not 

 eating, he always endeavours to find his level, either by 

 standing across the stall, or else as far back as his halter 

 Avill permit, so that his hind legs may meet the ascent of 

 the other side of the channel." 



This sloping direction of the floor of the stall is also a 

 frequent cause of contraction of the heels, by throwing too 

 great a proportion of the weight upon the toes of the foot, 

 and removing that pressure which tends most to keep the 

 iieels open. It mu^t therefore be evident tliat the floor 

 should slant no more than is absolutely necessary to drain 

 off the urine sufficiently quick to prevent chemical action 

 taking place. This is the kind of stall most suitable for 

 mares, but for horses it should be constructed with a grating 

 in the centre, and an inclination of the floor on every side 

 towards the middle. This should be carried off to the 

 outside by means of a small drain and lodged in a reservoir, 

 as urine is a valuable acquisition to the farmer. To prevent 



