28 ROOFS AND FLOORS. 



51. — The situation of the stable should be dry and sunny, and 

 openings for air and light be on the sunny side of the building. 

 The walls may be any non-conducting material that is most easily 

 obtained in the locality. Height is always advantageous, and 

 there should be some opening high up that should never be closed. 

 If the horses are to be kept warm it must be done with clothing 

 or with fire, and not with bad air. No roof is so comfortable as 

 thatch, no floor so good as clay. 



52. — The clay must be kept well above the surrounding 

 gi'ound, and should be nearly a foot thiclc, putting it rather 

 higher in those parts where there will be most wear and pressure. 

 Ram it hard, and keep it quite level and ft'ee from holes. A 

 horse is greatly injured by the common practice of standing with 

 his fore legs higher than the hind ones, or with either of them 

 in holes. The clay may be loosened with a pick and re-levelled 

 whenever it wears in holes. A small part of it will daily and 

 advantageously find its way to the manure heap, and when any 

 part gets thin and low, or emits any smell, it may be picked up 

 and removed for manure, putting a new bed of clay in its place. 

 This will be found far better than any kind of stone floor, 

 as besides being uninjurious to the horses feet, clay is the best of 

 deodorisers, and keeps the air of a stable more fit to meet the 

 eyes or lungs. Any kind of smooth stones are dangerous, and 

 too slippery for the horse to rise on when laid down. Nothing- 

 could be much worse than the rough pavement made with small 

 stones put close together, so commonly used. It is impossible to 

 clean it or to prevent it smelling strongly, as stones do not 

 deodorise, whilst it is distressing to a horse's feet and destructive 

 to his shoes. Where appearances and great neatness are 

 principal considerations a clay floor with all its sanitary 

 advantages will hardly be accepted. In that case concrete will 

 be the best material, if made rough enough for the horse to get 

 a good foot hold on it. It will not deodorise, but it will not 

 absorb, and can be washed perfectly clean. Contractors are fond 

 of putting it down in layers, with the largest proportion of cement 

 at the top. This does not answer at all, the whole four inches of 

 concrete should be put down at once, and of the same strength 



