140 MODERN FARRIER. 



in the stable, are always more or less disposed. The 

 hind-legs too are always more inclined to swell from 

 this circumstance ; and the horse, when lying down, 

 frequently sHps backwards in such a manner, that, 

 being at tlie utmost length of his halter, he is unable 

 to rise on his legs, owing to the confinement of his 

 head and neck. 



The ground surface of the stall, therefore, should 

 be perfectly level both before and behind ; and in 

 order to carry off the urine, a drain may be made 

 under the surface, with ^. grate about six inches 

 square in the centre, and which part of the surface 

 should be rather lower than the rest. 



The best flooring for stalls is strong oaken planks, 

 well seasoned, and laid across the stall with their 

 extremities below the partitions, and having their 

 joining edges accurately adapted to each other. 

 Such a flooring is more elastic, and preserves a more 

 equal temperature than pavement ; besides, although 

 a little more expensive, it is not so slippery, or so 

 apt to be broken with the pawing and stamping of 

 the animal, as brick or stone. 



The manger should be so contrived as to slide 

 into the wall, so that when the horse is not feeding, 

 he may have nothing to bite at whilst he is being 

 cleaned, which habit often teaches them to become 

 crib-biters. The racks should be made of cast iron, 

 in which case no splinters can rise to wound the 

 animal's lips. They should be perpendicular with 

 the wall, because, by hanging over, hay-seeds some- 

 times get into the horse's eyes, and produce great 

 inconvenience. The bars should not be above four 

 or five inches asunder, that the hay may not fall out 

 and be wasted. The door of the stable should be at 

 least seven feet high, in which case the horse will be 

 less liable to strike his head against it in passing 

 through it. 



The roofs of stables should be a good height, and 

 the walls should be of stone or brick, but by no 



