157 



convenience to fasten liim by the nose-band, for the groom's securitv 

 whilst dressing him. On eac;h post at the lower end of the stall, there 

 ought to be a strap to buckle to the headstall of the bridle, when it may 

 be necessary to set the Horse upon the bit, his tail towards the manger. 



The Stable Customs and Duties, 



With respect to cart stables, and those of the ordinary description, 

 it will be only necessary to give a caution or two. One of the greatest 

 consequence is, that Horses may never be fed together in such Avay, 

 that the strongest, or most spirited, may monopolize the food, or at 

 least cull the best of it, which he most assuredly will do. And so it 

 is with all animals, in feeding either within or without doors. Sickly 

 or faint-hearted Horses, or those with aged or young mouths, are very 

 liable to have their spirits broken, and their strength wasted by the 

 vicious attacks of their more powerful fellows, and at the best, such 

 contests ruin the comfort of their meals. Nor is the care of a man 

 looking on, by any means a sufficient security in this case. Such are 

 the jobs, of which all servants soon become wearied. Partitions, or 

 absolute confmement of the heads of the master-beasts, are the only 

 security. In common stables, Avhere the expence of fiiU stalls will not 

 be allowed, quarter-stalls will be sufficient, as far as regards feeding: by 

 this term I mean boarded partitions reaching to the shoulders of the 

 Horses, in order to separate their heads. No two labouring animals 

 ought to be fed together where it can be avoided, nor ought their 

 heads to be within reach, for the master-beast will ever take a malifrnant 

 pleasure in teazing and harrassing his fellow, often in injuring him, 

 and more especially in case of the low state or sickness of the latter, or 

 of his being a stranger. Such is nature! 



It is the liberal custom of the British stable, to allow the Horse a 

 good bed, and a good carpet of wheat straw. The utility of this has 

 been, within these few years, controverted, and even pretended mis- 

 chiefs from it pointed out, under the guise of new discoveries. But 

 these novelties may be traced as far back as Xenophon, and the com- 

 ments upon him, by Berenger. The origin of this penury, the shift 



without 



