PRIVATE TRAINING STABLES. 73 



at other times when some may be in physic, and 

 others not. 



But before I proceed further with my observations 

 on private stables, I will take an accurate view of both 

 sides of the question ; my readers will then find out 

 what horses ought to stand in stalls, and what horses 

 ought to stand in boxes; and which, in some measure, 

 may guide the owner in the building of his private 

 stables. 



Now, the advantages to be derived from the use of 

 boxes, are principally for such horses as may have re- 

 turned in the autumn to the home stables, from a 

 summer's country running. They have some of them 

 become not only stale and round on their legs, but 

 stale in themselves. All such horses are much sooner 

 refreshed, by being allowed to range loose in. boxes 

 than they would be by standing in stalls; and it is in 

 boxes that such horses should stand during winter, as 

 well as while they are training. In regard to craving 

 colts and horses that are in strong work, some of them 

 will stand whole days in stalls, and may not lie down 

 until night; from which circumstance I have known 

 their legs fill, and get a little round ; but if they are 

 kept in loose boxes, although they may not lie down 

 during the day, they will range and walk about, and 

 thereby exercise their limbs, which would not only 

 keep off the stiffness the work occasions, but prevent 

 their legs from filling and getting out of shape. It is 

 a great advantage to country platers, to get into boxes 

 Avhen travelling on the road, for such liorses are mostly 



