378 VENTILATION. 



harness, blankets, etc., are strewn helter-skelter about the 

 stable and the man, if he stops to contemplate the situation, 

 is bewildered by the amount of work confronting him. Such 

 is the all too common proof of bad management and absence 

 of system. 



A tippling or drunken servant cannot and does not give 

 his share of the work a proper amount of attention, and the 

 same may be said of a man whose main interest is outside of 

 the stable ; he will slur over his work in order to be " with 

 the boys," or at cards, or with some alluring member of the 

 fair sex. When excuses come pouring in for faulty work, 

 look for the source of the trouble in the evening and early 

 morning. A visit to the stable at nine or ten p. m. or 

 between six and seven in the morning is worth a week's in- 

 spection at more "seemly" hours. 



VENTILATION. 



The majority of servants Avho have charge of a stable 

 consider the matter of temperature before that of ventila- 

 tion. Under all circumstances, however, the latter should 

 be of primary importance. The means of safely providing 

 for a free circulation of air are described in Chapter IV. It 

 is impossible to have too much fresh air, providing the horses 

 are gradually accustomed to it, and the vents are so arranged 

 that no drafts will be produced. Admiral Rous, a famous 

 handicapper of race horses, is quoted by Captain Hayes in his 

 book entitled " Training and Horse Management in India," 

 p. 8, as saying : 



"The windows of a stable ought never to be shut by night or day; in 

 cold weather add to the clothing, but never deprive them of the great 

 source of vitality, fresh air." 



