34 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



A. Unfortunately, such is the case. Frequently 

 ventilation that is designed for use in the hot- 

 test days of summer is made use of in the 

 depths of winter, and it should be thoroughly 

 impressed on all grooms that no animal can 

 thrive in a draught ; while the better groomed a 

 horse is the more sensitive does his skin become, 

 and the more likely is he to catch cold. An old 

 Spanish proverb says, '' Death comes in with the 

 wind through a hole," and there is a great deal of 

 truth in this. Fresh air is most beneficial, but 

 even more so is the avoidance of a draught, and 

 where this is not attended to, constant colds are 

 the inevitable penalty. Ventilation should be in- 

 dependent of windows. Where it is practicable 

 it is a good plan to have a small opening through 

 the wall near the surface of the ground, if there 

 are nothing but boxes ; but if there are stalls the 

 ingress of the air must be at a higher level. 

 There should be a corresponding outlet passing 

 through the roof, guarded by louvre boards, 

 which should be placed over the passage, clear of 

 the boxes, so that if a sudden down di-aught 

 should commence before it is detected it will not 

 come direct upon the horses. A sliding board 

 should be fixed to each so that the openings can 

 be arranged to a nicety in a second, or, if 

 necessary, be closed altogether. A down draught 

 should never be permitted to continue, but must 

 be stopped at once as soon as detected. A horse 

 racked up, with a draught playing upon him 

 which he cannot escape by moving his position, is 

 an unfortunate object but too often seen. Ventila- 

 tion directly over a horse's head is very efficient 

 in the dog-days, but very dangerous in the winter 

 months. 



