VENTILATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF STABLES. 15 



warm pastures, such as Flanders, the horse grows large and coarse. In 

 cold wet climates the horse is not, we believe, found in the wild state. 



Warmth and dryness we may therefore assume are needed for the 

 development of the best powers of the animal, though the former is not 

 essential to his health. The Shetland pony is perfectly healthy, hardy, 

 and enduring. 



Pure air and freedom from positive damp will be obtained by the 

 plans of building already recommended, and a fairly even temperature 

 by night and day may be maintained, if thick walls and ceilings are also 

 adopted in the construction ; but sufficient warmth and perfect dryness 

 will be wanting during many days and nights in the course of the year 

 in this climate. Clothing will do much to supply the animal's body with 

 warmth, exercise and grooming with high feeding will do more ; but 

 none of these will raise the temperature of the stable, or get rid of the 

 moisture inherent in the air in this country on certain days and in 

 certain seasons. 



If the matter rested here, it would not signify much — the coat might 

 stare a little, the food might be to a certain degree wasted in maintain- 

 ing the heat of the system instead of producing flesh, and the general 

 condition might be somewhat lower than it would be under perfectly 

 favourable conditions of warmth and dryness. 



But the matter does not rest here. The groom will have the stable 

 wann, whilst probably from ignorance he will not object to its being 

 moist or even damp and foul. He will stop the egress of the foul moist 

 heated air produced by respiration, and also the ingress of cold fresh 

 air ; and by these means, aided by the caloric loaded with impurities 

 given off by the breath and bodies of the animals, he will raise the air to 

 the desired temperature. In some cases he will crowd an additional 

 number of animals into the stable in winter on the plea that they will 

 keep each other warm. The air, however, will be foul and moist, not 

 pure and dry, such as the well bred horse loves. 



As a matter of fact the groom is quite right in desiring warmth for 

 the horses under his charge ; and any owner of horses will do well to 

 meet his views by supplying the stable during the latter part of the 

 autumn, winter, and early spring, with heat artificially generated, such 

 as that produced by open fires. Open fires, though somewhat more 

 expensive, are better than stoves or hot air or hot water apparatus, 

 because they assist and promote ventilation. There is really no good 

 reason why the owner of valuable horses should grudge the expense of 

 open fireplaces. A grate is not an expensive article, nor will coals form 

 any material addition to the expense of a hunting or racing establish- 

 ment. The horses will gain in health and condition far more than is 

 counterbalanced bv the trifling extra cost. 



25. Dimensions and cost. 

 Six feet is a fair average width for stall, but very large horses require 



