28 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



be neglected even for a day, tlie animal may be irretrievably 

 ruined. 



It is now much the practice to sew cloth round horses' 

 legs, with the view, I should suppose, of giving support. 

 But whatever advantage may thus accrue is in my opinion 

 nullified by the fact that the custom hmders the ready 

 examination of the parts covered ; for a rupture or strain 

 of the tendon may exist unsuspected. The injury may 

 not be sufficient to cause lameness until galloped, but then 

 assuredly it will betray itself; often too late. The harm 

 done will probably be irretrievable. 



The feet also require frequent attendance ; for neglect of 

 them will be followed by serious consequences. The results 

 of such inattention, however, will be more legitimately treated 

 in the next chapter. 



Let me add that a trite saying, " A place for everything and 

 everything in its place," is a motto that should strictly be 

 followed. Its observance economises labour, and gives the 

 show and reality of neatness to a place. The broom, fork, and 

 shovel, should have a place assigned them as near the stable 

 as possible, where they may be kept when not in use. The 

 dung-barrow may be placed at the back of the stable, or in 

 some other spot sheltered from observation ; as may the 

 tar and grease cans, stopping-box, and the sand-box. The 

 saddles and bridles may be kept with the other furniture in 

 use neatly folded up, in the drying or saddle-room, after 

 being properly cleaned and dried. The buckets may be 

 arranged in a row outside the stable walls, and in dry and hot 

 weather should be kept full. And even so small a matter as 

 the tightness or looseness of the head-collar is an object of 

 moment. For indifference to this, as I shall presently show, 

 may be the cause of the ruin of a valuable animal. 



