STABLES AS THEY SHOULD BE. 



309 



man, to whom the affectionate creature may be attached, would, more- 

 over, attract the notice and inspire the confidence of timi4ity. 



COMSUCTINQ THE HORSB THSOUGH AN ORDUfARJ STABLE DOOB. 



The lower division of the door should, on fine nights, after dusk, be 

 opened, that the prisoner may stretch its Umbs and bathe its hoof in the 

 evening dew. So the grass is kept sufficiently short, not to afford more 

 than a nibble, no harm, but much good, will arise from sanctioning so 

 innocent a luxury as a stroll in the free air. The eye of the horse fits 

 the creature to roam by night; and man should, by this time, have suf- 

 fered enough to cause a doubt as to the wisdom of crossing nature in 

 her many wonderful provisions for the welfare of her children. 



Such a suggestion may startle the prejudices which are inherent in the 

 proprietors of most training stables. These places are, however, chiefly 

 situated on the open downs, where ground is cheap, and the herbage 

 Scarcely affords a bite for the close-feeding sheep. Half an acre of such 

 land could, without much expense, be attached to each box. On to this 



