26 THE HORSE. 



CHAPTER V. 



MANAGEMENT IN THE STABLE. 



Bedding'. — The provision of bedding for horses in the 

 stable is necessary in order that they may rest comfortably at 

 nights. A good and soft bed ensures a thorough and complete 

 rest. The bedding further serves to absorb the urine, and in 

 the winter it helps to keep the horses warm. 



Straw forms the best kind of bedding, and is most gene- 

 rally used. Wheat straw is much superior to either oat or 

 barley straw for littering purposes^ on account of its possessing 

 greater absorbing powers, and making a better bed. When 

 bedding horses down with straw, it should be well shaken 

 out either by hand or with a fork, and distributed evenly 

 over the floor of the stall or box. It is a good plan to bank 

 up the straw to a distance of about a foot against the stall 

 partitions or the walls of the box. By doing this, possible 

 injuries to the legs of horses are prevented, as they often knock 

 their legs against the partitions or wall while lying down or 

 in getting up. 



Peat-moss Litter is very suitable for bedding pur- 

 poses; it possesses much greater absorbing powers for liquid 

 than straw, but it does not make so comfortable nor so soft 

 a bed as the latter. If litter has to be purchased, it will often 

 be found more economical to buy peat-moss than 

 straw, but not in ail cases. When using peat-moss litter, all 

 lumps must be completely broken up, and thoroughly disin- 

 tegrated before it is put down. 



