MANAGEMENT OF LIGHT HORSES. 159 



CHAPTER X. 

 MANAGEMENT OF LIGHT HORSES. 



STABLES. 



THERE is a right and a wrong way of building both a stable 

 and a house ; but the ideal in each case has often to give way 

 to the necessities of position and the shape of the ground 

 available for building purposes. In the country where land 

 is comparatively cheap, and space not of much account, very 

 many perfect ranges of stabling are to be found; but in 

 London and other large towns the most valuable horses are 

 frequently housed in most unhealthy habitations ; and the 

 wonder is that the veterinary surgeon is not in even greater 

 request than he is. Some of the cab stables are as bad as they 

 can be ; but the salvation of the cab horse is that he spends 

 so much of his time in the open air, thereby counteracting 

 the pernicious effects of his close dwelling ; where, however, 

 improvement is not possible, suggestions are of no use. It is 

 often necessary to pack away the greatest number of horses 

 in the least possible space ; and when this takes the form of 

 a long stable with a door often the only means of ventila- 

 tion at one end, it will be readily understood that the un- 

 lucky steeds at the far end get no air to speak of certainly 

 no fresh air. 



So far as is possible, stables should be both light and airy. 

 Sunlight is beneficial to both men and animals ; and a horse 



