44 ON THE STABLES, ETC. 



length of the chain should be three feet, which, when 

 let out to its full extent, will be of sufficient length to 

 admit of the horse's reaching the bottom and every 

 part of the manger with ease ; but it must not be made 

 to exceed the above length, or the horse will have the 

 power of reaching his bedding at the time of his being 

 fed ; a thing, which for various reasons, should be 

 avoided. The manger, with regard to its depth and 

 breadth, may be made as most others are. To prevent 

 the horses from injuring themselves by getting their 

 legs into them (which they will sometimes do when 

 the mangers are very low, the top rail of the manger 

 ought to be three feet ten inches from the ground. I 

 think the fixed mangers according to the old plan are 

 to be preferred ; they are more convenient than those 

 which are made to draw in and out of the wall ; but 

 on this' point I do not speak from experience, as I 

 never remember to have lived in any stables where 

 tliose of the latter description were used. Some are of 

 opinion that horses cannot conveniently crib-bite, 

 when there is no manger rail ; but horses that are much 

 inclined to this habit, will be at no loss to put it in 

 practice while they have the bottom rail of the rack to 

 lay hold of. It may, therefore, be advisable to put a 

 horse that may be much inclined to crib-bite, into a 

 stable or box where there is no rack -, a drawer manger 

 may then be an advantage. Wainscotting should be 

 continued from the bottom and outer edge of the man- 

 ger, down to where the wall and ground meet. 



In regard to the rack, if one ])e placed, it must be 



