54 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



sufficient volume to prevent any slight gas pressure overcoming it. To 

 further prevent any risk of sewer air entering a building, all drains should 

 be ventilated on the sewer side, and the outlet of the ventilator carried 

 upwards above the roof of the building ; a disconnecting syphon 

 should be interposed between the stable drain and the sewer. 



Stable Fittings. 



Stable 

 doors. 



Latches. 



Windows. 



Stable doors should be eight feet high, and four or eight feet wide, 

 according to whether the men have to lead single horses or pairs through 

 them. Too narrow a door has been the cause of many accidents, both to 

 horses and men, the former striking and frequently breaking their hips, and 

 the latter getting trodden on or squeezed against the door posts. Two low a 

 door has probably been responsible for more casualties in the past than it 

 is likely to give rise to in the future, as there is a noticeable improvement 

 in this respect in recently constructed stables, and eight feet is not too 

 high to prevent the chance of a startled horse throwing up and striking 

 its head. The door may be hinged or made to traverse on rollers ; hinged 

 doors should open outwards to permit free entrance if the animal stands in 

 the doorway, and also to guard against accidents from striking the half- 

 closed door. The hinges should be | shaped, the horizontal arm reach- 

 ing well across the door to support its weight, and a suitable swing back 

 stop should be fitted to prevent it banging to. 



Half doors, the top and bottom portions opening separately, are excel- 

 lent for stables. The top half can usually be left open — on the lee side at 

 any rate — for ventilation ; and when fitted to loose boxes, the occupant can 

 look out. In this latter case the lower part should be high enough to exclude 

 the possibility of jumping over. Traversing doors should be hung on 

 rollers from above and fitted with large smooth handles, in which a loose 

 horse cannot get hung up. 



Latches should be strong, easily turned and with large flush handles, 

 which offer no projections for loose horses to get hung upon. 



Wmdows have been to some extent described under the heading of 

 ventilation. They should be on the Sheringham principle, i.e., hinged 

 along their lower border so that they open with an inward slant. There 

 cannot be too much light in a stable, and if possible each animal should 

 have a window over his stall, the lower edge eiyht feet from the floor and 

 fastened by some method which leaves no rope or projection for the 

 horse to play with or get entangled in. Sash windows are unsuitable 

 for ^tables. 



