MODEUN FARHIEK. 1 39 



between the two ranges is often so narrow, that 

 when the opposite stalls are occupied at the same 

 time, the horses can reach each other with their 

 hind-feet, especially when standing, as they often 

 do, at the full length of their halter. Hence, in the 

 contests that often arise between quarrelsome or 

 mettlesome horses, very severe bruises, and even 

 lameness, are not unusually the consequences of the 

 animals being within each others' reach- The dan- 

 ger that threatens passengers in these narrow spaces 

 is also not small. A person is much exposed to 

 danger when obliged to pass between two rows of 

 horses, kicking and wincing under the curry-combs, 

 where the intermediate space does not exceed three 

 or four feet. If double-headed stables must be used, 

 the spac.e between the ranges of stalls should be at 

 least eight feet. 



The stall should be six feet wide, to allow a horse 

 of fifteen hands height room to turn round in, 

 .especially as the back-bone of a horse possesses but 

 little flexibility. The length of the stall should be 

 nine feet, and the height should be such as to hinder 

 them from smelling or biting each other. It is a 

 bad and dangerous mode to divide the stalls only by 

 a bale, or circular wooden bar, suspended by a chain 

 both at the manger and at the post. 



The custom of paving the stall with a descent 

 backv/ards is productive of many serious inconve- 

 niences. This is done for the purpose of letting the 

 urine run off from the litter. But tlie pain of 

 standing constantly in an up-hill position is very 

 great; and the horse always endeavours to find a 

 level standing, either by placing himself across the 

 stall, or by retreating as far back as his halter will 

 allow. He is also obliged to balance himself by 

 standing with his fore-legs farther under his body, 

 which gives him a bad habit of going, and also by 

 removing the pressure from the heels to the toes, 

 tends to increase that contraction to which the feet, 



