STABLING. 11 



wards the manger considerably above the level of the 

 rear part. It should be borne in mind that the horse 

 is peculiarly sensitive to any strain on the insertions of 

 the back or flexor tendons of his legs. Thus in stalls 

 formed as described, you will see the creature endea- 

 vouring to relieve himself by getting his toes down be- 

 tween the flags or stones (if the pavement will admit) 

 with the heels resting upon the edges of them ; and if 

 the fastening to the head be long enough he will draw- 

 back still farther, until he can get his toes down into 

 the drain- channel behind his stall, with the heels upon 

 the opposite elevation of the drain. Proper pavement 

 in your stable will help to alleviate a tendency towards 

 what is called "clap of the back sinew." — See page 

 143. 



The slope of an inch and a half or two inches is suf- 

 ficient for purposes of drainage in paving stables ; but 

 if the drainage can be managed so as to allow of the 

 flooring being made quite level, so much the better. 



Should my reader be disposed to build stabling, he 

 cannot do better than consult the very useful and prac- 

 tical work entitled ' Stonehenge, or the Horse in the 

 Stable and in the Field.' 



The horse being a gregarious animal, and much 

 happier in society than alone, will, in the absence 

 of company of his own species, make friends with the 

 most sociable living neighbour he can find. A horse 

 should not be left solitary if it can be avoided. 



Dogs should never be kept in the stable with horses, 

 or be permitted to be their playfellows, on account of 

 the noxious emissions from their excrement. Cats are 

 better and more wholesome companions. 



