STABLES AND STABLE MANAGEMENT 95 



" There should be one or more (according to the size of 

 the stable) ventilating shafts in the roof itself, and one 

 or more on each side of the stable near the top of the 

 walls. These should have what is termed 'louvre 

 boards' and cords to allow of their being opened or 

 closed, wholly or partially, as desired. Furthermore, 

 there should be ventilating gratings a few inches from 

 the floor on all the walls, and these should also be 

 furnished with closing bars, so that they can be kept 

 open or shut." So far, so good; but if there were a 

 hundred ventilators in the stable many grooms would 

 never dream of opening one of them. As to which 

 ventilators should be opened and which shut must 

 depend upon the state of the weather and of the wind. 

 But we presume a groom has sufficient common sense 

 to know that the ingress of fresh air causes the egress 

 of foul air, and that he must regulate his ventilators so 

 that the rush of fresh air expels the foul air without 

 causing a draught. 



The windows of a stable should be behind the horses, 

 i.e. facing south or south-west, providing that the 

 aspect of the stable is such as we have recommended; 

 but if the aspect be north or north-east, they must be 

 placed in front of the horses, and as near to the ceiling 

 as possible so as to prevent any glare in front of the 

 horses' eyes. Lattice windows are preferable to those 

 made of squares of glass, and have a more sportsman- 

 like appearance; but in either case they should be 

 made to open upon pivots, and have holland blinds to 

 shield the glare of the sun when necessary. One win- 

 dow to three stalls, or loose-boxes, is sufficient, unless 

 the aspect is closed in by trees or other buildings. 



