252 



MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPE. 



the lower built into the masonry; 2d, a ring sliding on this bar, and 

 having a chain 2' long, with a T at the free end, attached to it ; this T 

 toggles to the halter ring. The sketch shows this arrangement. 



Each horse is allowed a width of 4' 10", never less than 4' 8", so that 

 he may have the allowance of 70 cubic feet, and the space necessary for stable 

 guards, utensils, &c., may be preserved. 



Stables which are less than 29' wide and 12' high can be used for two 

 rows of horses only as a temporary arrangement. 

 Among the French stables of all dates and varieties, one recently completed at Saumur, and 

 the new ones at Lyons are justly regarded as models of excellence. 



Their dimensions and general arrangements are in conformity with the regulations given 

 above; there are, however, some details worthy of notice; that at Saumur being the most 

 perfect will be described in preference. 



The stalls are 4' 10" wide in the clear, and 10' long to the heel posts ; they are separated by 

 swinging planks, suspended as shown in the annexed sketch. 



W>7r0'!i^' 



The floors are of cubical blocks of stone, laid in cement. A shallow gutter in rear of 

 each row of stalls allows the stale to drain off. The longitudinal partition is of masonry, and 

 about 10' high. The interior of the stable is plastered; the wood work painted oak color. In 

 the window recesses there are racks, on which to hang the horse equipments when saddling and 

 unsaddling. 



The equipments are kept in rooms in the loft, where the saddles are placed on horizontal 

 wooden jjius, the bridles hung on hooks. The racks are continuous and of wood ; the string 

 pieces, and each bar, are bound with narrow strips of sheet iron. 



The lower string piece rests upon iron hooks, let into the wall, the upper one is held firm by 

 iron bars, also let into the wall. 



The manger is a continuous mass of stone, with an excavation for each animal ; these excava- 

 tions are 22" long, 12" deep, and 12" wide at top. 



The building is divided into apartments, for about 20 horses each, by transverse partitions 

 and stairway halls ; there are large doors in these partitions. In a central hall there are water 

 tanks. 



