154 



VETERINARY HYGIENE 



in depth hanging from the rear and forming a " kicking-piece ; " this 

 offers some protection from kicking horses. Bails are hung by a 

 short length of chain from the manger in front and the heel-post 

 behind. They have, therefore, a certain amount of lateral move- 

 ment. Pole bails usually hang about 3 feet from the ground. All 

 bail chains should be secured with safety catches so that they can 

 be released quickly owing to the frequency with which animals get 

 hung up on the bails. 



Advocates of the bail system of separation claim for it that 

 ventilation is more free than with closed partitions, that all horses 

 are visible when one enters the stable, and that there is economy 

 in construction and greater facility in cleaning and washing out 



FIG. 62. Section showing a 

 substantial type of wood 

 manger with corbelling 

 and tie bolt. 



(Jooct Lining 

 Lod<6 emenT for- 



FIG. 63. Section showing a wood 

 manger. 



the stable. The disadvantages of bails are numerous. Horses 

 frequently get astride them, especially during the night, and when 

 in this position the inside of their legs and groin get damaged, 

 sometimes seriously. A method sometimes adopted to lessen the 

 possibility of damage is to cover the suspending chains with leather 

 or to fix a large smooth ball round the chain where it joins the 

 bail. Horses are liable to get their legs over the bail if it is hung 

 too low, and if it is hung too high they damage each other's legs by 

 kicking under the bail. However bails are constructed, or at what- 

 ever height they are hung, kicks resulting in injuries ranging from 

 a mere skin abrasion to a broken leg are always possible. The price 

 of one good horse will pay for several proper partitions. A very 

 serious disadvantage arising from the use of bails is that many 

 horses are prevented from lying down. In a stud of heavy cart 

 horses well known to the author a comparatively large number have 



