230 STABLES. 



width for stalls is generally 6^ ft. Ponies 14 hands and 

 under can do with stalls 5 ft. by 10 ft. 



CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF STALLS. 



Divisions of stalls (and boxes) are made with the following 

 objects: i. To keep the animal within certain limits of 

 space ; for instance, those necessary for the economical 

 employment of bedding. 2. To prevent him from kicking or 

 otherwise injuring a neighbour on either side of him. 3. To 

 prevent him from smelling and sometimes from seeing his 

 neighbour or neighbours. While carrying out these objects 

 we should be careful to interfere with ventilation as little as 

 possible. The first mentioned condition is the only one which 

 has to be fulfilled in all cases. The second is not provided 

 for, or only in exceptional cases (as with a kicker for 

 example), in military and other stables where swinging bails 

 are used. The third condition may often be dispensed with. 

 The divisions may be made 1 1 ft. long, 7 ft. high at the 

 head of the stall, 4 ft. 9 in. high at the foot, and solid for a 

 height of 3 ft. 6 in., in order to aid in saving the animal, if he 

 happens to kick against the divisions, from injuring himself, 

 which he would be likely to do, if he kicked hard against iron 

 bars, for instance. As a further protection to the possible or 

 probable kicker, the lower portion of the divisions may be 

 covered with wood, the grain of which is sometimes placed 

 horizontally, so as to allow the foot of the kicker to glance 

 off the wood more readily than it would do, if the boards 

 were arranged vertically. 



Pillars are placed at the entrance of the stall to give a firm 

 attachment to the divisions. I see no use, except the doubtful 

 one of hanging things on them, for tops or heads being placed 

 on these pillars, so as to make them project above the 

 divisions. Mr. Alec Goodman informs me that he has seen 



