6 THE ECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 



particle of smolce. Instead of having a large corn-cliest in the 

 stable, a handsome scat may be made at tlie back of the stable, 

 extending as far as may be necessary : in this there may be par- 

 titions to separate the beans, or the bran, and places may be 

 made to rest the arms upon, so that a gentleman may sit down 

 comfortably in his stable, and see his horses taken care of. A 

 stable thus constructed will be found conducive to the health 

 and the comfort of horses, and will afford an inducement to the 

 groom to attend to every little circumstance which may con- 

 tribute to cleanliness. He will not allow the smallest bit of 

 dung to remain swept up at one end of the stable, as it com- 

 monly is. The pails should be kept outside, and not standing 

 about the stable, as they commonly are. If it is necessary to 

 take off the chill from water, it is much better, and more easily 

 done, by the addition of a little hot water, than by suffering it 

 to stand in the stable ; and while the horses are at exercise, the 

 litter should be all turned out to dry, and the floor well washed 

 or swept out. A little fresh straw may then be placed for the 

 horses to stale upon. Litter thus dried during the day will 

 serve again as well as fresh straw for the bottom of the bed, and 

 be perfectly free from smell. The litter necessary to be kept 

 under a horse that he may stale with comfort, and without 

 splashing himself, is not considerable, and may be changed once 

 a day. A great saving may be made in litter by turning it out, 

 and drying it as I have described ; and if a shed wei'e built ad- 

 joining a stable, it may be done at all times, and may serve also 

 to exercise and clean a horse in Avet weather. 



Neither dogs, fowls, nor goats should ever be permitted to 

 enter a stable* ; and dung should be kept at a distance from it. 

 In speaking of the arrangements of the stable, it may not be 

 amiss to notice what I consider a good contrivance in cleanins: 

 horses ; that is, to have two straps, one on each side the stall, 

 about one yard from the head of it. By these the horse may 

 be fastened during the time he is cleaned, by which means he 

 Avill be effectually prevented from biting the manger or the 

 groom ; and being kept back in the stall, the groom will be 

 better able to clean the front of his fore legs, chest, and neck, 

 and be able to move round him : this is better than strapping 

 him to the rack. When the common rack and manger are pre- 

 ferred, the rack staves should be straight, and brought nearly 

 down to the manger, and this may easily be done without the 

 necessity of a hay-loft, and the manger may be made deep and 

 wide, as I have described it. 



* When a horse that has been accustomed to company is taken to a situ- 

 ation Avhevc only one horse is kept, the society of a tjoat may contribute to 

 Ins comfort, and make him more cheerful than "he would otherwise be ; and 

 cheerfulness is certainly conducive to health. 



