i2a THE HORSE 



probability of a horse becoming cast increases in pro- 

 portion to the narrowness of the stall. 



Of course, the danger of casting can be avoided by 

 having attached to the top of the headstall a rope or 

 cord so arranged, with a pulley or otherwise, that the 

 horse can get his nose to the floor of the stall but 

 cannot lay his head flat on the floor of the stall, and if 

 he cannot do that he is very unlikely to get cast. Some 

 horses have a habit of becoming cast, and such horses 

 can be protected against casting in this manner. The 

 worst injuries from casting are usually caused by the 

 horse getting his head caught under the hay manger; 

 but in a properly constructed stall this cannot happen, 

 for the manger is continued down to the floor so that 

 there Is no vacant space beneath it. 



VENTILATION 



Ventilation Is, of course, extremely important, and 

 it should be so arranged that draughts will not come 

 directly upon any horse. In cases where this is im- 

 possible, the horses that stand in stalls exposed to 

 draughts should be carefully blanketed. In large 

 stables there are always some such stalls, either near a 

 window, or otherwise exposed, and the occupants of 

 these stalls should be protected by light sheets or thick 

 blankets according to the weather. 



Ventilation is best procured by a shaft in the center 

 of the ceiling combined with windows placed well above 

 the horses' heads. These windows should open in such 

 a way as to deflect the air entering them from the 

 horses underneath. 



