Planning a Stud Farm. 7 



THE FOALING BOXES. 



The Stud Groom's House should overlook the stud yard, 

 and, if possible, the paddocks generally; for although his 

 duties will entail many walks abroad, it will be found very 

 convenient if, when he is attending to correspondence, or 

 taking a short " easy," his windows enable him to keep in 

 touch with all that is going on. The Foaling Boxes, because 

 of the important part they play in stud farm work, should 

 be in close proximity to the stud groom's house, not only 

 to serve that individual's convenience, but also because the 

 arrangement will tend to isolate them somewhat from the 

 other mares' boxes. All mares that have recently foaled, 

 and especially young mares with their first foals, are the 

 better kept quiet and free from excitement for the first 

 couple of days after foaling, and it is impossible to ensure 

 this desirable quietude when the foaling boxes are within 

 earshot of the daily outgoings and incomings, with the 

 attendant clatter and commotion, of the rest of the mares 

 and foals. No size within reason is too large for the foaling 

 boxes. The author has seen mares, in an 18ft. foaling 

 box, lie down to foal so close to the wall that it was impos- 

 sible for the foal to be expelled. Again, a few extra feet of 

 manoeuvring ground is much appreciated by an attendant 

 when dodging the heels and teeth of a vicious mare, who 

 resents his necessary intrusion to assist a weakly foal. 

 Doubtless many a good horse has been safely delivered in a 

 14ft. foaling box; but the ideal foaling box for the ideal 

 stud farm should not be less than 18ft. square. The follow- 

 ing is a ground-plan of a block of six foaling boxes with 

 sitting-up room for attendant: 



