STABLES AND STABLE CONSTRUCTION 13 



harness and carriage appointments. A loose box or two 

 forms a valuable addition to any stable, detached loose 

 boxes being the best. Many stables are fitted with one 

 or more loose boxes at each end of the stable, or some- 

 where in the building. These are useful for the " segrega- 

 tion '' of a horse, but when the loose boxes are detached 

 from the main building a sick animal can be isolated. 

 The inlet for fresh air should be by means of ventilating 

 windows, i.e. the lower portion closed and the upper 

 open, so that there is a constant current of pure air 

 passing into the stable, and foul air passing out through 

 a ventilating shaft in the roof. The stable should be 

 neither too cold nor overheated ; a temperature of 50° 

 to 55° Fahr. is about right. 



The best stable fittings are made of iron, but, in the case 

 of a temporary stable, wood answers the purpose perfectly 

 well. Iron mangers are by far the most durable, and we 

 recommend these in preference to all others. There are 

 quite a number of manufacturers of stable fittings, and 

 anyone contemplating erecting a stable could not do 

 better than to apply to some of these firms for their 

 catalogues. A plentiful supply of water should be at 

 hand in every stable, as cleanhness of the stable is 

 necessary to the well-being of the occupants of the stable. 

 There are quite a number of details to be worked out in 

 stable construction, but the space at the author's disposal 

 prohibits him from entering into consideration of these. 

 The stable floor, during the summer, should be washed 

 down daily, say every morning after the bedding has been 

 lifted, and during the time that the animal is out at 

 exercise, i.e. if there is sufficient help in the stable for this 

 purpose. Plenty of water, a stiff broom, and a large 

 amount of energy are the necessaries for cleansing a stable 

 floor. The bedding should be taken outside the stable 

 and exposed to the air, which should be admitted freely 

 to the interior of the stable. A dirty and untidy stable 

 is a disgrace to anyone, and certainly indicates the 



