S TA LLS — STAMINA 



throws, and also to endeavour to satisfy himself as to whether 

 the blood of the horse is likely to cross well with that of 

 the mare. Many people entertain the belief that the sire 

 has most to do with the temperament of the foal, whilst 

 the mare influences its strength. (See Atavism, Back Blood, 

 Breeding, Brood Mare, Saturation.) 



Stalls. — Speaking generally, it is better for horses that 

 they should be kept in loose boxes than in stalls, but space 

 has often to be considered, and there are many animals 

 which are best kept in stalls. The least that should be 

 allowed in the way of width for a full-sized light horse — 

 cart horses, of course, require more — is 5 feet 6 inches, but 



6 feet 6 inches will allow them to lie down in more comfort, 

 but they will rest better in boxes with their heads loose, 

 and with plenty of room to stretch about in. The depth 

 of the partitions should not be less than 9 feet, and if 10, 

 so much the better, their height at the horse's head being about 



7 feet, and at the other end about 5 feet 6 inches, the greater 

 height at the heads being necessary to prevent the horses 

 from biting each other. In many stables there is a space 

 left between the wall of the stable and the inner end of 

 the partition in order to secure ventilation for the stalls, 

 which often in hot weather become oppressively close, owing 

 to no current of air passing through them. (See BaleSy Drains, 

 Floors, Ventilation.) 



Stamina is, undoubtedly, hereditary, but it is capable of 

 being developed to some extent in all horses by judicious 

 training, though it is impossible to transform a non-stayer 

 into a horse which can be capable of negotiating long 

 distances under pressure. A great deal, however, depends 

 upon the speed at which a horse is ridden or driven, as an 

 animal of very doubtful stamina will often get to the end 

 of a long journey in creditable fashion if his strength is 

 judiciously husbanded, and he is indulged with the oppor- 

 tunity of enjoying a blow, and getting his second wind 



321 X 



