STAPJ.E FITTINGS. 23 



furnished with a catch in the wall to prevent their swinging to suddenly 

 in windy weather. 



38. Loose Boxes. 



Many modem stables are divided into boxes instead of stalls. The 

 plaii^as many advatitages, principally because the horses can stand out 

 of a draught. Most of us know the extreme discomfort of sitting in 

 draught, and the risk of colds, coughs, and rheumatism. Ten feet si^. 

 inches square are guite sufficient for, stable loose boxes, and the difference__ 

 'of experreg-m^building a stable is but small. ' 



""'The two~end boxes, if more room is thought desirable, can be, without 

 cost, enlarged by taking in the passage at each end. 



The doors of loose boxes should always open outwards or traverse to 

 the side. A door fitted with the ordinary latch, if it opens inwards, may 

 occasion a serious accident, such as an injury to the eye, if the horse 

 happens to be standing near it when it is suddenly opened. 



But such loose boxes are no substitute for detached loose boxes, which 

 should always be provided for sick horses. Stable boxes share the 

 common air of the stable; but those intended for sick animals require 

 purer air than is commonly found in a stable, and, moreover, they^ 



'generally need to be kept at a lower temperature than is desirable for~* / 

 horses in full work. 



-r2^ It is not advantageous to make sick boxes over-large. Twelve feet 

 by fourteen with a height of twelve feet is sufficient. In addition to the 

 usual manger and hay rack, loose boxes intended for sick hors es should 

 be [irovided with a staple fixed in the wall about two leL-t six inches froim 



)i the ground, on which a pail may be hung. Sick horses carry their heads 



l^low and ahvays prefer to feed near the ground. 



'^*"~Tor^ sick boxe?, when the door is on hinges and divided into two parts, 

 theTower portion should not exceed three feet six inches in height. If 

 ""EigEerTaTsTck" horse who stands with his head drooped down may not be 

 ableWget if over the door so as to enjoy the fresh air. A bar, however,-— 



"Should be provided to go across the upper half, _as otherwise horses,^ 



^ Jespecia T^^^youhg ones , are apt to try and jump out. It is essen tial that 

 thi s bar be piaeed sufficiently high above the half dooFTo allowthe horse 

 to geThis "Eead^ in andTout^easily "between it' and the door. If the space 

 is narrow, an accident may occur to the animal in drawing back his head, 

 if he happens to get frightened. 



If a traversing door is used, three bars will be needed so as to enable 

 it to be left open. For sick boxes, however, the ordinary door divided 

 into two parts is decidedly preferable, because the lower half shelters the 

 patient's legs from draught, whilst he can put his nostrils over it. 



All latches are in some degree oljj-iLtir.na'HejTn all, though so rounded 



off as TO r due e the ch ance 6t RT l accid :nt tn a ni i nimum^ there^ is ,a ,possi- 



"^ility that a rein orsti ffup leath er jjuav eut^ . in them when th e hors^ 13 



