STABLES. 5 



The floor of the stable should be made level, so that 

 the horse may have an even "bearing" for his feet. 

 The syce should keep the stall dry and clean, without 

 any provision for the drainage of urine being required. 

 I may remark that this form of construction is in 

 accordance with the practice followed in all the best 

 racing stables at Newmarket, where it has been found 

 unnecessary to drain the stalls and boxes by giving a 

 slope to their floors. The ground around stables, 

 however, should be thoroughly well drained. 



The form of stables I prefer is one with a single row 

 of boxes, having a verandah about 12 ft. wide, on the 

 outer line of which the roof is supported by a row of 

 pillars, which are the same distance apart, one from 

 another, as are the partition walls of the stalls. The 

 verandah should be protected by bamboo frames 

 covered with thatch (Hind. Jhamp) ; so that, in the hot 

 weather, the direct rays of the sun may not play on the 

 interior of the building ; and, in the cold months, the 

 horses may be protected from draughts. 



Loose boxes, to be thoroughly comfortable, should be 

 at least 12ft. by 16ft. In India, 10ft. by 12 ft. would 

 be a minimum. The walls between the boxes should 

 be made about 7 ft. high, so as to be just sufficient to 

 prevent the animals smelling each other over them. 

 Stalls, for large horses, should be 6 ft. by 12 ft. Ponies 

 may be contented with one of 5 ft. by 10 ft. At 

 Newmarket, stalls are, generally, made 6i ft. wide. 

 If narrow stalls are used, the syce, when removing a 

 horse, should back him out, instead of turning him 

 round. 



If not more than five or six horses are kept in one 



