280 THE STABLE 



l>y moans of skylights, wliich parrl;i!ly open or revolve, 

 and can he readily opened or closed hy means of a cord, 

 aje excellent, as affording good ventilation. In all stahles, 

 liigh windows answer well, when of sufficient size, an(] 

 so placed that the light shall not fdl directly upon and 

 affect the horses' eyes. To obviate this as far as possible, 

 they must be high in the wall, and in sufficient number to 

 give a good light. 



It is a mistaken opinion, that but little light is requisite 

 in a stable. No horse was ever known to thrive in a dark 

 stable ; but many a good horse has had his sight seriously 

 affected by this absurd and mischievous practice. It may 

 answer a dealer's purpose to keep his horse from the li<dit 

 till brought out to be sold. Wlien brought out from a 

 dark stable into the light of day, a horse very naturally 

 stares about him ; he looks high, carries his head high, 

 and appears as if he had a good deal of action and anima- 

 tion. Dark stables may thus suit particular purposes ; but 

 they invariably injure the horse's eyes ; to say nothing of 

 the necessity of light in the several grooming operations, 

 as well as in the numberless cases which arise wherein 

 immediate assistance is necessary. 



The roof of the stable usually f )rms the floor of the 

 hay-loft : in this case the ceiling must be at least ten to 

 twelve feet from the ground, and higher, if more than four 

 horses be kept in the stable. Where there is no loft abt)ve, 

 the height should oe greater ; because, in summer, the sun 

 iiiakes the tiles or slates hot, and the stable becomes like 

 an oven ; while, in winter, the cold, and sometimes snow 

 lying on the roof, converts the stable into something like 

 an ice-house. Such extremes must be avoided : they are 

 prolifically productive of disease. 



It will be useful to keep a barometer in the stable ; and 

 the nearer f:o the temperate point the temperature can he 

 maintained, the better. No ill scents should ever be dis- 

 cerned in a stable ; these are easily avoided ; a due regard 

 to cleanliness, a good ventilation, and a perfect drainage, 

 will prevent any noisome smell, and keep the stable sweet 

 and clean. 



The flooring of a stable is an essential part of the inter- 

 nal economy, and requires particular attention. It is the 

 y ractice, in many places to lay the floor of stables with 



