THE HORSE. 93 



absorbed the urine. But during the night, the 

 horse may have to repose in a puddle of urine and 

 wetted litter ; and should two or three retromingents 

 stand in following stalls, a considerable pool of the 

 liquid may be the consequence. Cast iron has been 

 tried for stable flooring, instead of clinkers; and Mr. 

 Goodwin has made the following experiment with 

 success, it having been in use five years, fully an- 

 swering his expectations. Instead of paving the 

 stall, the greater part to be a grating of cast iron, in 

 four divisions, to open and rest in the centre, on 

 a ridge of stone. Under the grating are to be two 

 drains, either of stones or cast iron, on an inclined 

 plane, which will readily throw off the urine as it 

 falls, into an outer drain; thus, let the urine fall 

 wherever it may, it runs through this grating and 

 out of the stable instantly. The bars of the grating 

 to be close enough together, to prevent the calkins of 

 the horse's shoes from beino; locked into them. The 

 stall to be one inch and half lower before than be- 

 hind. 



In the Section of the Stud, I have described the 

 external conveniences and requisites of the complete 

 stable establishment. To speak of internal improve- 

 ments, there are some which might be adopted with 

 great advantage to the horse, as highly promotive of 

 his health and condition. Among the first and best 

 of these is, permitting him to stand loose in his 

 stall ; and nothing can be more satisfactory evidence 

 of its utility than the constant recourse, among 

 sportsmen, to the loose stable for stiff, crippled, or 

 lame horses. It is the only substitute for a run 



