BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 



157 



frequently cracks off, chips of which, if eaten with the food, arc 

 liable to provide a nucleus for the formation of a calculus. A slot 

 in the front part of the manger-plate, through which the head-rope 

 can play, is a more convenient and safer method than that of having 

 a ring or hole in the front of the manger, with the rope exposed. 



Hay Racks. At one time hay racks were invariably placed 

 above the manger at a considerably higher level than the horse's 

 head, and though still sometimes found in farm stables and in the 

 older type of commercial stables where renovation is prevented 

 owing to expense, that position has been rightly discontinued for the 

 more natural and safer position of a lower level. Overhead racks 

 were, and still are, the frequent cause of eye injuries, through seed 

 dropping into the eye when the horse stretches his head up to pull 

 the hay out. With overhead lofts the high rack no doubt saves some 



FIG. 65. Cast-iron manger and hay rack. This type of 

 rack is not recommended as hay is easily pulled out 

 and drops to the ground. 



labour when long hay is pushed down a trap-door immediately above 

 them. The proper place for a hay rack is on a level with the 

 manger. The low rack with the wide open top, as shown in figure 

 65, has an obvious disadvantage, as large bunches of hay are pulled 

 out and dropped on the ground. To obviate this some racks are 

 fitted with a sliding grid, which falls with the hay; thus the hay 

 is kept in its place, but always within reach of the horse. A com- 

 promise between the low and high rack is seen in figure 67. This 

 is a good type, being safe and not wasteful. 



Mangers and hay racks for loose-boxes are more conveniently 

 made as separate fittings and of a triangular shape in order to fit 

 in the corners. 



Water Pots. It is a much disputed point whether horses should 

 have a constant supply of water in front of them or not. 



There can, however, be no question but that theoretically the 

 hygienic ideal demands a supply of fresh water always available 

 for the stalled horse. Unfortunately, a manger water pot very soon 



