138 THE HORSE: ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 



bricks laid edgeways, which are very much better for the 

 horses to get a good foothold. They are of a much softer 

 nature than the blue bricks. 



During my travels the last few years I have found 

 many stable floors, especially new ones, made of Portland 

 cement. This makes a fine hard bottom, and at the 

 same time the horses can get a good hold with their feet 

 when they want to get up. Horses require a good firm, 

 solid bottom under their feet, on account of their so 

 often stamping, especially with their hind feet. I would 

 advise those who are building a stable to make a concrete 

 floor, mixing in ground flint and cement, then put a facing 

 of the best Portland cement and flint dust on that before 

 it is dry. If the floor is made in this way it will last a 

 century as a rule without even cracking. It not only has 

 an advantage in being very durable, but there is nothing in 

 it to hurt the horses' knees, and it gives them a good foot- 

 hold as well. 



In an ordinary stable, where a poor man only just 

 keeps one horse and cannot spare much money to make a 

 floor, if ordinary bricks are obtained and laid edgeways, and 

 moss peat is put on the top of that, it will last a lifetime. 

 Where bricks are used with nothing to cover them but 

 straw, it is well to have a drain for the urine to pass away, 

 with a large cup in it that fits easily, so that all the thick 

 sediment can be taken out at least once a week. If this is 

 not seen to the drain soon becomes stopped up, as a good 

 deal of the short manure gets washed down and sets very 

 hard, unless there is a good flush of water used to keep the 



