PART XI. 



STABLE HINTS. 

 {Alphabetically arranged.) 



BEDDING should consist of wheat, oat, or rye straw, as 

 barley straw is bad. When this is not procurable, sawdust, 

 about 100 pounds per week, or sand will do. These are both 

 useful for horses addicted to eating their bedding. 



Bedding should be removed during the da y-time, or swelled 

 legs maybe caused. 



BUILDING must be Avell ventilated, 1,500 cubic feet at 

 least for each horse, well lighted, but without glare, perfectly 

 free from damp. Floor of sun- burnt bricks should have slope 

 to rear of one inch per yard, with a tin pipe underneath to carry 

 off urine at once outside the building. In hot weather use 

 chicks to keep out flies. In damp weather, whilst horse is ab- 

 sent light charcoal fire for an hour or two in the stall. Stables 

 of fire-burnt bricks or stone are best, though a well thatched 

 shed open all round with movable mat screens for wind or rain 

 is often sufficient. If floor be damp, put down six inches of dry 

 sand, renewing daily any soiled portions, and take care to have 

 good drainage round the outside of the stable. Loose boxes 

 are preferable to stalls. In hot dry weather picket the horses 

 at night without heel-ropes in the open air. Poultry and dogs 

 should not be allowed in stables, though a cat is useful to keep 

 away rats. Mangers in India are unnecessary, as feeding from 

 a bucket on the ground prevents hasty eating. 



CHALK. A lump may be left in the stall for a horse to lick 

 at his leisure if he has signs of indigestion. 



DISINFECTANTS and rules for FUMIGATION to clear 

 stables of insects have been already detailed in the Chapter on 

 " Presceiptions." 



DRINKS. Water for drinking is best when taken from a 

 running stream, being soft ; from a tank is next best ; from a 

 well is the worst, as being hard it may cause gripes. It should 

 be filtered, if practicable, or at all events passed through a clean 

 cloth to prevent live insects being swallowed with it. If a 



