98 HUNTING 



tliey can make certain structural alterations without 

 incurring a great expense. But as the owner will, 

 doubtless, consign to a local builder the task of making 

 any such alterations, we warn him that personal 

 supervision is necessary, or the last state of the stable 

 may be worse than the first. Still, if the alterations 

 are merely confined to proper ventilation, we venture 

 to think that the benefit will be found to be great ; 

 while drainage can be made perfect at a very small 

 cost. Besides, a man who can afford to buy hunters 

 ought to be able to afford, at least, a healthy stable in 

 which to keep them. It is now our duty to consider 

 the interior fittings of a stable. 



We will start by saying that there should be nothing 

 superfluous in a stable, and that all the fittings should 

 be as simple as possible. The more superfluity, the 

 more dirt and dust and the more things to be kept 

 clean. Again, the greater the simplicity the greater 

 will be the tidiness. Sim;plex munditiis should be the 

 motto for a stable. 



The stall partitions should be made of oak or pitch- 

 pine boards. It is false economy to use deal, which 

 is liable to splinter, and has, therefore, to be constantly 

 renewed. These partitions are now made so as to be 

 movable ; thus by removing the partition and putting 

 up the oak bars already referred to on the two adjacent 

 partitions, a loose-box, sufficiently roomy for the most 

 capricious animal, can be made in a few minutes, and 

 the hunting man may be sure that after a long day his 

 tired horse will appreciate the luxury. Besides, though 

 space may not permit the use of loose-boxes, there 

 should always be, at least, one spare stall in the stable, 



