222 STABLES. 



directly over the horses, may be gained by constructing an 

 inner roof of, say, 2 in. boards, at about 12 in. from the outer 

 roof, so as to leave between the two a layer of air that will 

 effectively help to prevent outside alterations of temperature 

 from being too rapidly felt by the occupants of the building. 

 The best theoretical arrangement for the roof of a stable is, 

 one by which the roof directly covers the horses without any- 

 interposing ceiling, against the presence of which there can,, 

 however, be no practical objection if the ceiling is not less 

 than about 10 ft. (or 12 ft, if there are several horses) high,, 

 and if the stalls and boxes are provided with efficient 

 ventilating shafts, besides good ventilation of the ordinary 

 kind. When a ceiling is present, it is evident that the fact 

 of the roof being made of a material which, like corrugated 

 iron, is a good conductor of heat, is a matter of no con- 

 sequence as far as the temperature of the stable is concerned ;. 

 for the overhead floor and the air contained in the room or 

 rooms of the upper storey will give all the protection that is 

 required in this respect. 



DOORS. 



It is advisable to have the stable door of ample dimensions,, 

 say, 6 ft. wide and 8 ft. high, so as to diminish the chance of 

 an accident occurring by a horse knocking himself against the 

 door post, or rearing up and striking his head against the 

 lintel while he is being led through the doorway. As a rule, 

 the immediate consequences of such an accident are less- 

 serious than the resulting vice of being " door shy " (if I may 

 use the expression), which frequently follows an injury thus 

 acquired. This annoying trick may be conquered by methods, 

 described in Illustrated Horse-breaking, supposing, of course, 

 that the animal is given no fresh cause to revert to the practice 

 of his former vice. It is evidently impossible to completely^ 

 blot out from the mind of a horse the pleasing recollection. 



