24 THE CARE OF HORSES 



About 5 or 5.30 p.m. begin bedding down, fresh 

 toss what is already in the stalls and boxes, using 

 now all that litter which has been packed neatly 

 under the manger all day. Shake a little fresh over 

 it, keep it well up at the sides, as shown in the 

 illustration of the stable interior ; this protects the 

 horse when lying down. That dene, water first, then 

 toss in the chaff and oats, and put the hay down 

 either on the floor or in a hay-rack level with the 

 manger. Never put it in an overhead rack. Pick up 

 any droppings, and neatly sweep the gangway at the 

 back of the stall. 



See that all the rack-chains are hooked up in the 

 rings, not left hanging with one end in the manger or 

 the hay-rack. I have had that done, and found some 

 time afterwards that the horse has either been play- 

 ing with it or taken it in his mouth with some hay, 

 and there it was hooked firmly as any fish ; and a 

 nice job it is, too, to get the hook out, for it pierces 

 right through the skin. Make sure that the log or 

 lower chain runs freely through the ring, and does 

 not stick or catch in any way. 



Having satisfied yourself that all is as it should 

 be — your pails full of clean water, the horses com- 

 fortable and safe — lock the doors and leave them 

 until the morning. 



Saddle Work 



Now your day's work is over, your trap and 

 harness all cleaned and put in their places, your 

 horses and stables locked up for the night. To- 

 morrow you may have an order for saddle-work, so 

 let us talk about it and how to set about it. Be sure 

 your saddles are perfectly clean and dry inside and 

 out. Saddles should always be dried when taken off. 

 If linen or woollen lined, when dry they should 



