130 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



staple, thus allowing an equal distance to each side of the 

 stall. The ring should be large enough to admit a free 

 movement of the shank through it. No hole cut through 

 the boards of the front of the manger will be safe. After 

 the shank is put through this loose ring, it should be fas- 

 tened to a wooden ball or block, without square corners or 

 sharp points of larger size than will be admitted through 

 the ring, and weighing about half a pound, with a one inch 

 hole through its centre. Thus, this weight attached to the 

 end of the halter, acts as a sink to it, and allows no slack, 

 therefore the leg cannot get over it. The length of halter 

 shank to be allowed may be measured by the height of the 

 manger from the floor, or distance the ball will carry the 

 loose or slack halter, and let no accumulation of bedding, 

 litter or straw, lie immediately under the front of the man- 

 ger to prevent the ball sinking clearly to the floor. The 

 above plan for tying horses in the stable is the only way 

 to avoid accidents, and no other contrivance, short of the 

 loose-box, should ever be substituted for the sink-ball 



Care of the feet of the horse is suggested by our 

 large experience, coupled with the truism, " no foot no 

 horse," — -and further, a good healthy-bodied horse will out- 

 wear two sets of legs, and something above that number in 

 hoofs and feet. We will therefore endeavor as best we 

 can, to indicate a plan, which when followed will give 

 such good results, by a freedom from disease short of acci- 

 dent, that will shake the faith of many who believe in the 

 above aphorism. To attain so desirable a condition, the 



