CHAPTER XX. 



THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. 



This is a most important part of our subject, even as it re- 

 gards the farmer, although there are comparatively few glaring 

 errors in the treatment of the agricultural horse ; but it comes 

 more especially home to the gentleman, who is too often, and 

 too implicitly, under the guidance of an idle, and ignorant, and 

 designing groom. 



We will arrange the most important points of general man- 

 agement under the following heads : — 



AIR. 



The breathing of pure air is necessary to the existence and 

 the health of man and beast. It is comparatively lately that 

 this has been admitted even in the management of our best sta- 

 bles. They have been close, and hot, and foul, instead of airy, 

 and cool, and wholesome. 



• The stable should be as large, compared with the number of 

 horses that it is destined to contain, as circumstances will allow. 

 A stable for six horses should not be less than forty feet in length, 

 and thirteen or fourteen feet wide.^ If there is no loft above, the 

 inside of the roof should always be plastered in order to prevent 

 direct currents of air and occasional droppings from broken tiles. 

 The heated and foul air should escape, and cool and pure air be 

 admitted, by elevation of the central tiles ; or by large tubes car- 

 ried through the roof, with caps a little above them, to prevent 

 the beating in of the rain ; or by gratings placed high up in th<f 

 walls. These latter apertures should be as far above the horses 

 as they can conveniently be placed, by which means all injuri- 

 ous draught will be prevented. 



If there is a loft above the stable, the ceiling should be plas- 

 tered, in order to prevent the foul air from penetrating to the 

 hay above, and injuring both its taste and its wholesomeness ; 



* It will be borne in mind that the iiuthor is speaking of the clos4» 

 itone or brick stables of England, — Am. Ed. 

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