STABLING. 9 



bare pavement can order that, after the stall is thor- 

 oughly cleaned and swept out, a thin layer of straw 

 shall be laid over the stones during the daytime. In 

 dealers' and livery stables, and indeed in some gentle- 

 men's, the pavement is sanded over, which has a nice 

 appearance, and prevents slipping. 



When the foul litter is abstracted, and the straw 

 bedding taken from under the horse, none of it should 

 be pushed away under the manger ; let it be entirely 

 removed : and in fair weather, or where a shed is avail- 

 able, the bedding should be shaken out, to thoroughly 

 dry and let the air pass through it. 



Wheaten is more durable than oaten straw for litter : 

 but the fibre of the former is so strong that it will 

 leave marks on the coat of a fine-skinned animal wher- 

 ever it may be unprotected by the clothing ; however, 

 this is not material. 



Light should be freely admitted into stables, not 

 only that the grooms may be able to see to clean the 

 horses properly, and to do all the stable -work, but if 

 horses are kept in the dark it is natural that they 

 should be more easily startled when they go into full 

 daylight, — and such is always the consequence of badly- 

 lighted stables. Of course, if a horse is ailing, and 

 sleep is absolutely necessary for him, he should be 

 placed separate in a dark quiet place. 



Stalls should be wide, from six to seven feet across 

 if possible, yielding this in addition to other advan- 

 tages, that if the partitions are extended by means of 

 bars to the back wall, either end stall can be turned 

 into a loose-box sufficiently large to serve in an emer- 

 gency. 



A Loose-Box is unquestionably preferable to a stall 



