VENTILATION AND CONsTKUCTION OF STACLES. 



13 



186. Health uithont drains. 



It is a practical fact that stables can be sweet and the horses healthy 

 without any drains at all. From various reasons — level of ground, sur- 

 rounding buildings, 2 or 3 tiers of horses, etc. — it may be impossible to 

 drain the stables. 



The main factor in this system is moss litter aided by abundance 

 of fresh air and cleanliness. Every morning every atom of the bedding, 

 which is wet or otherwise tainted is removed from the stable. The rest 

 is raked to the sides and front of each stall. The floor is then 

 thoroughly swept down and exposed to the air until the horses are 

 Ijedded down. If the tainted litter is wholly thrown away, 50 lb. p^er 

 horse per week will be required. If the litter is dried and used again, 

 30 lb. to 40 lb. may be sufficient. Experience for several years past 

 has abundantly shown that the health of horses can be maintained under 

 this svstem, if it is thornughlv carried out. 



- Horsesundoubtedly stand most comfortably on a perfect^ level, and 

 any slo peZinore _t haii' "absolu tely nec essary for drainage purposes i3_ 

 decidgdly objectionable. Any great degree of slope is positively injurious, 

 because it throws an uiidn^' flress on the hi n J quartern and also prLjtlig 

 "HexoTTendons of the lore-legs by reason of t he toe b eing more elevated 

 than the lieel. '^'^ "~ 



)^20. S Ue of stihles. 

 The well-bred horse is a native of a^ry^country, and_ loves^ d rynes s. 

 TiTjJMjnp hfitio^_lo ses all life an d__jpiilts^ and becomes debilitated. 

 Disea se of any sort is v ery apt to supervene on deblTlty*- 



l e site of every st^ le^ shoul gbedee ply thor ough-drained. The soil 

 sel ected should, if possible, be gravel. The situation shmild tfe naode^ 

 rately high, open, an^~^vith facilities for natural drainage. Blejik situa- 

 tigas-are not desirable. Bulldjngs in the immediate neighbourhood, j£!^ 

 ^i gh. are objectionab le. The ordinary custom^ of erecting stables and^ 

 coach-hou ses rou nd three sides jjf a square is not the best« The air_ 

 always hangs more orHfess in anv >ur]i alin^ 



~t enclosed space. 



)^ 



21 . Aspect of stahles . 



A northern aspect is cold and cheerless, vrhilst a southern aspect is 



often unduly hot in summer. In stables with windows on both sides 



_east_and vfeat-a&peets-willi as a generafnile, be found most advantageous.^ 



The one side will have the~ni"orning^ and tlie other the afternoon sun. 



There should be a door at each end or in the middle on each side, as^ 



may be most convenient to the ['articular locality. Either door can then 



be used according to the circumstances .of the weather aii'd wind. If the" 



stable is verv larL^e, it is d-'^iiMLle to have d'lors Ixitli at the sides and 



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