STABLES. 139 



his respiratory powers. The best plan, therefore, so 

 far as is practicable, is to have nothing but loose 

 boxes, and for each box to open direct into the out- 

 ward air. 



We now come to the shape and dimensions of the 

 loose box. Here the horse itself must supply us with 

 the measurements requisite. The box should be wide 

 enough for him to turn round without effort, that is, 

 rather wider than the horse's length from his nose 

 to his tail. It should be long enough for the horse 

 to lie down and leave a gangway behind him, and it 

 should be high enough for him not to be able to 

 touch the ceiling with his nose, however high he 

 may lift his head while standing. 



As regards the floor or paving, it should be of 

 flat bricks, and should be as level as it can be made, 

 so long as the liquid can run off into the drain. As 

 regards light, a solid door with an opening to admit 

 the light over the top of the door, the same width as 

 the door and eight or ten inches high, will be found 

 to answer the purpose efiiciently. The door should 

 be four feet wide. Doors of stables are usually made 

 to open inwards, but I am not sure that this is the 

 best plan. If a horse gets cast in the box, or is 

 taken with colic, he may get rolled up against the 

 door, and then no one can get in to him, whereas if it 

 opened outwards there would be no difiiculty. Again', 

 the litter or straw may cause the door to jam and 

 make it difficult to open. 



