HORSE PRODUCTION 125 



warm. Blanketing horses in the stable tends to keep their coats in better 

 condition than they otherwise will be, although in stables properly constructed 

 it may not be regarded as a practice that justifies the expense. Horses that 

 are blanketed while in the stable are more susceptible to taking cold when 

 taken out of the stable if they are not carefully blanketed when left standing. 



Care of the Harness and Shoulders. One should be particularly careful 

 to see that the harness properly fits the horse and that the draft or pull 

 against their collar comes as near to being at right angles with the shoulder 

 as possible. Keeping the harness in good repair and properly fitted to the 

 horse overcomes trouble with sore shoulders and makes the work which the 

 horse has to do much easier. The harness should be kept clean especially at 

 points which come in contact with the body. Collars should be pounded and 

 kept soft and smooth. A collar that fits snugly at the beginning of the spring 

 work when perhaps the horse is in high condition of flesh, may be somewhat 

 too large when the horse becomes reduced in flesh. Ordinarily the collar 

 should fit so that there is just room for one's hand between the collar and 

 the lower part of the neck. The use of sweat pads tends to overcome the 

 collar being too large and may offer protection to shoulders that are soft and 

 tender. In all instances they should be kept clean and dry. An extra pair 

 of sweat pads that will enable a dry pair of pads to be used in all instances, 

 will be a good investment. Much of the difficulty from sore shoulders is 

 overcome by working horses early in the spring season to harden their 

 shoulders gradually and have them in good condition before the heaviest 

 work comes on. Bathing the shoulders thoroughly with salt water and drying 

 them thoroughly each day in the early part of the spring season, tends to 

 harden them and overcomes soreness. 



Stabling Horses. In the construction of new barns and in the modifica- 

 tion of old barns, there is always opportunity to improve upon the arrange-- 

 ment of stables and conveniences for giving live stock of the various classes 

 the most suitable care and attention. The horse stable should be carefully 

 constructed to afford plenty of air, sunlight and ventilation. Stalls should be 

 arranged in a manner to avoid sunlight shining directly into the faces of the 

 horses. Large, roomy stalls ^ l / 2 to 5 feet wide and 10 feet deep, provide roomy 

 stalls in which horses can rest comfortably, and be easily groomed and 

 harnessed. The floors should be constructed to drain properly and keep the 

 bedding and stall as dry as possible. A concrete floor with a rough surface 

 to prevent slipping and a wooden grate immediately under the horse is the 

 most suitable floor. The grate should be so constructed that it can be lifted 

 up and the floor cleaned whenever necessary. Horse stables need not neces- 

 sarily be as warm as stables for other classes of stock and it is not a good 

 plan to have the horse stable in the same part of the barn with cattle and 

 other classes of stock. 



If the horse stable is included in the same barn with cattle, a partition 

 that will separate them is desirable. Horses kept in cow barns which are 

 as a rule much too warm for horses, incur danger of taking cold upon being 

 exposed to cold outdoor weather. The horse stable should be arranged with 



