THE HORSE : ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 57 



It not only prevents them laming themselves in a number 

 of instances, but it adds so much to their comfort. 



When a horse has done a day's work, the more 

 comfortable it can be made, the better. Many horses, 

 after they have scraped away the bedding from under them, 

 dare not lie down, especially old horses, on account of 

 slipping in trying to get up. I have known some middle- 

 aged ones, where they have pulled the bedding about in 

 this way, not to lie down more than once a week. Young 

 horses do not mind much, but I have known old ones 

 myself to stand twelve months right off. One old horse in 

 particular I could name that had not laid down for four 

 years. This animal was over thirty years of age. They 

 have been known not to lie down for five or seven years, 

 except they have fallen down when standing asleep. 



A horse, when in good health, does not lie down for 

 more than from two to three and a half hours at the 

 outside, as they get the cramp very often, if they lie in one 

 position for very long. Sometimes they will lie down three, 

 four, and five times in one night, so that it is well to be 

 careful, and see they are comfortable in the stable, and 

 can get proper foothold. It is usually noticed that a horse 

 rests very much better when put in a loose box than when 

 tied up, for the simple reason, the whole of the loose box is 

 well bedded down, and they get proper foothold when they 

 try to get up. When they do this they are not so timid,, 

 and rest much better. 



