46 THE HORSE 



be placed, if possible, on a level with the manger, 

 and it is a good plan to arrange for a water trough 

 to be added alongside this, so that the animal can 

 take a drink when he is desirous of doing so, a lid 

 being provided to close the latter receptacle if he 

 should come in overheated and so be likely to 

 imbibe too freely. Every precaution should be 

 taken to see that the headstall, which should always 

 be made of leather, fits the horse properly, and that 

 the logs at the end of the ropes or chains which 

 connect them with the manger are sufficiently heavy 

 to cause the ropes to tighten when the animal moves 

 his head forward. If the ropes slacken there is 

 always a risk of the horse getting his leg over them 

 and being cast in his stall with possibly the gravest 

 results. The clothing, except in the very warmest 

 weather, and then a thin sheet may be used, should 

 always be sufficiently thick to keep the horse comfort- 

 able, but of course the number and thickness of the 

 rugs must depend upon circumstances, such as the 

 ventilation of the stable, its size, and the number of 

 horses it contains. If a plentiful supply of straw is 

 provided for bedding, the animals will lie warmer 

 than if peat moss litter is used, and the stable 

 will look far smarter; but the latter substance is 

 cheaper, and consequently some owners who study 

 their expenditure are influenced thereby into using 

 it. Sawdust is a still more economical and more 

 objectionable substitute for straw, but it cannot be 

 recommended as a litter for horses, save under most 

 exceptional circumstances, as it blocks the drains, 

 spoils the coats, and is very apt to get into and 

 inflame the eyes. All droppings should, of course, 

 be removed from behind the horse as soon as 

 possible and conveyed outside the stable, whilst it 

 is imperatively necessary that a periodical inspection 

 be made of the drains in order to ascertain that they 

 are in perfect working order and not clogged up. 



