CHAPTER III. 



THE PADDOCK, STRAW-YARD, STABLE, AND STABLING. 

 THE PADDOCK. 



A PADDOCK is advantageous for rearing young horses, for turn- 

 ing out horses when not required for work, and for restoring 

 to health or soundness those which are recovering from lame- 

 ness or sickness. From some points of view the term paddock 

 is synonymous with pasture, though the latter usually means a 

 more extensive area than the former. In both horses may be 

 turned out, from motives of economy, or for other reasons, 

 during summer and winter. A paddock or pasture should afford 

 a good growth of sweet and rich herbage, and be, if possible, 

 of extensive range, with sound and safe fences. Locality will 

 greatly influence the character of pastures ; those which are 

 low-lying and moist are considered best for rearing large colts, 

 and for horses suffering from debility, lameness in the limbs, 

 or diseased feet. Those pastures which are on undulating and 

 hilly ground have their advantages, as the air is drier and the 

 ground harder ; they are preferred for young colts, as the 

 hoofs grow more compact and firmer. Pastures or paddocks 

 which have been grazed upon by horses only for a number of 

 years, are generally considered as unsuitable for growing 

 animals, or not of much advantage to any; as the herbage does 

 not contain a sufficient amount of nutriment, while the land 

 becomes impregnated with the germs of the worms which infest 

 horses. It is, therefore, recommended that grass land which 

 has become " horse-sick " should be ploughed and subjected to 



