SITE AND ASPECT OF STABLES. 193 



keeping himself warm by moving about; and by grooming and 

 clipping he loses a large amount of the protection afforded by 

 his coat and by the dandruff in it. To compensate him for 

 these losses, he is better sheltered from inclement weather 

 and from changes of temperature ; he has, as a rule, a more 

 comfortable bed ; is usually provided with clothing according 

 to the season ; and is generally better fed. Even with the 

 best directed attempts at obtaining perfection in drainage and 

 ventilation, it is practically impossible to have the air in the 

 stable as pure as that outside. To counterbalance this dis- 

 advantage, we can usually keep the box or stall drier than the 

 surface of a field or paddock. 



SITE AND ASPECT OF STABLES. 



Dryness being, as we have seen, a condition favourable to 

 the health of horses, the site chosen for stables should be as 

 free as possible from moisture, and should be well drained. 

 Soil which is naturally damp, or which, like clay, retains rain 

 or other water for a comparatively long period on or near its 

 surface, should of course be avoided. The best soil upon 

 which to erect stables, provided the drainage is perfect, is one 

 of deep gravel or deep sand, free from organic matter. Soils 

 made, as we sometimes find in towns, from various kinds of 

 refuse, are often very unhealthy. 



As horses require a constant supply of pure air, the position 

 of their stables should be in no way confined. At the same tirne, 

 as the animals are liable to suffer from the effects of chill, the 

 ground for their abodes should not be too exposed to winds. 

 In confirmation of this expression of opinion, we have the 

 fact that in some parts of India, paralysis of the loins from 

 chill is not uncommon among horses which are exposed to 

 cold winds at night coming after great heat during the day ; 

 and that the occurrence of this paralysis has been stopped by 

 the construction of a wall which was capable of sheltering the 



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