548 STABLING. 



I have found two features about the stables as usually 

 constructed through the country, which are so faulty that 

 I would urge the necessity of having them corrected. 

 First, in the construction of mangers and racks. The man- 

 ger, an open trough, is usually so high that a horse of 

 medium height can liarely reach over and put his nose to 

 the bottom. Extending over this manger is a rack so high 

 that the horse can scarcely reach the hay from it. There 

 is usually more hay packed into this than the horse can 

 eat at one time, so it is suiTered to remain there until it 

 becomes stale and sour from the horse breathing upon it, 

 and the exhalations from the bedding which is usually 

 packed during the day under the manger. When the horse 

 reaches for the hay, the dust and dirt which have accumu- 

 lated are thrown over his head and eyes. In the first 

 place, the horse does not like to eat such trash ; secondly, 

 it is difficult for him to reach it ; thirdly, he is liable to be 

 annoyed, if not injured, by the hay and dirt filtering into 

 his eyes and mane. 



The nearer the horse is made to feed in the stall as he 

 does in the field, the better. But if compelled to eat grain 

 from the ground, there would be waste. To avoid this, a 

 receptacle must be provided in a corner about on a level 

 with the shoulder, from which to eat grain ; but tho hay 

 should be measured and put in a corner .on the ground 

 where it can be easily reached. If there is not too much 

 given, the horse will eat it clean. 



The importance of this is now so well understood that 

 all first-class horses are fed in this way. For the ordinary 

 work horse, or country stables, a simple low rack or man- 

 ger, one side made into a box or receptacle for the grain, 

 and the other part for hay, is all that is necessary. If two 

 horses are kept together, the stall should be about twelve 

 feet wdde, with grain boxes at the right and left, and the 



