46 ON THE STABLES, ETC. 



no doubt they would look much better if placed a foot 

 higher. I know that appearances are much studied in 

 hunting and saddle-horse stables ; but in stables for 

 race-horses, the first objects to be considered are com- 

 fort and utility, and the rack placed at the height I 

 have above directed is convenient for the boy putting 

 in the hay, and equally convenient for the use of 

 the horse in pulling it out to feed himself, and which 

 he can do in an easy natural position. The plan 

 of tying up the horse in the stable is a circumstance 

 to which, in order to prevent accidents, some attention 

 should be paid. For this purpose, one collar-rein is 

 quite sufficient. I do not approve of the practice of 

 attaching two reins, one to each side of the collar ; 

 for when a horse is rubbing his head with his hind 

 foot (as he sometimes will do), should he unfortunately 

 get his leg over either of the reins, it might be attended 

 with serious consequences, more particularly if such 

 occurrence should happen to the horse near the time 

 he was going to run. He may, in struggling, cut his 

 pastern joint with the rein, to such an extent as to 

 prevent his coming to post. Whatever method is 

 adopted for the purpose of securing the horse in his 

 stall, the more simple it is, the better. I should 

 advise its being done by having a hole made in or 

 below the manger rail, for the rein of the collar to 

 pass through ; this might run on a pulley into a sort of 

 case or trunk fixed inside the waintscotting, and 

 if it be necessary to give length to the collar-rein, 

 this case or trunk may be sunk below the surface 



