210 PRECEPT AND PEACTICE. 



it painful to lie on his side for any length of time 

 together. A horse in good health, under ordinary 

 circumstances, will rarely, if ever, be detected in 

 such position, and for his ordinary mode of resting 

 himself, a good wide stall is ample space. 



Having said thus much for the formation and 

 structure of boxes, and having stated under what 

 circumstances they are required, let us now see how 

 far they are to be recommended, or the reverse, for 

 general use. 



Every person at all conversant with the habits and 

 dispositions of horses is quite aware that they are 

 social animals ; therefore, though being alone and 

 undisturbed is solacing to them at times, it becomes 

 irksome, and, in fact, a punishment, if continued for 

 a length of time. The *' knuckering" or neighing 

 which a horse makes, and the uneasiness he shows, 

 on his companions leaving him, and the satisfaction 

 he manifests on their return, prove this. 



Let a horse be confined to a box with the upper 

 part of the door made of iron, so that he can watch 

 passing objects, or be on the look-out for them. You 



