14 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



together through them. It is possible and if 

 such a thing were to take place much damage 

 might be done ; so of course means must be 

 taken to prevent mischief. I can however only 

 say that I have had boxes on this plan for many 

 years and have seen others and I have neither 

 seen myself nor heard of, any trouble from this 

 source. 



For many reasons I like a big box. I think 

 horses are not so likely to go wrong in a big 

 box, nor is their life so monotonous as in a more 

 confined space. Then again big boxes are airy 

 and as a consequence the air is sweeter than 

 in small boxes, and especially is this the case 

 when they open '' independently " to the outside. 

 It may be said they are not so warm and that 

 in very severe weather horses may suffer from 

 cold. But horse clothing is cheap enough and 

 there is not much trouble involved in putting 

 on an extra rug. 



In some loose boxes the slope for taking away 

 superfluous moisture is towards the centre of the 

 box in which there is a small trap placed, the slope 

 coming from each corner. It is a plan I do not like 

 and in my own boxes I had the slope of about one 

 in sixty in one direction as in the stalls ; and I had 

 them let into a drain outside the boxes which led 

 to a receptacle which was emptied every day. 



Perhaps the best boxes I have seen are those 

 of Mr. F. B. Wilkinson at Edwinstowe. Roomy, 

 airy, and light, they fulfil all the requirements 

 of a loose box. Roughly they measure about 



