THE STABLE 35 



Above the stables I would have nothing. 



Rooms or a corn loft overhead are impediments to 



ventilation. Having the former means 



Lofts 



constant noise, and hunters, more than 

 most horses, require rest and quiet when in the 

 stable. A corn loft over the stable is bad for the 

 corn. Even if no stable fumes can enter into it, it 

 is certain to become too hot, which makes the oats 

 have a tendency to ferment. If, for reasons of 

 space, you must have your loft above the horses 

 have a concrete floor, avoid any direct communica- 

 tion with the stable, and have plenty of through 

 ventilation by means of windows and air bricks. 



The question of quiet for hunters is, I am sure 

 a most important one. Years ago, when hunting 

 from barracks, I never could keep flesh on my 

 horses. Yet, when I took them away, with the same 

 men looking after them, and with harder work to 

 do, they always used to improve in condition and 

 general appearance. I think one of the reasons of 

 this was that in barracks they were never really 

 quiet. The stables were not my own, men were in 

 and out all day, and with a barrack-room overhead 

 there was never any peace and quiet for the unfortu- 

 nate hunters. Needless to say this affects well-bred 

 nervous horses more than their hairy-heeled 

 brethren. I think horses in general are sociable 

 animals, and in most of my boxes I have a railed 



