234 STABLES. 



it about, and to consequently make his stall untidy ; and that 

 the usual manner of tying up a horse in a stall, makes it 

 inconvenient for him to feed off the ground. As hay is 

 one of the least savoury articles of forage, no useful purpose 

 is served by taking special precautions to make a horse eat 

 it slowly. 



The ordinary position for a manger is at the head of the 

 stall, and about 3 ft. above the floor. Although the term 

 " manger " is generally restricted to a trough for corn, roots 

 and mashes, it may be extended to a receptacle for both 

 corn and hay (presumably cut in short lengths), when these 

 two articles of forage are given without any attempt being 

 made to keep them separate. The size of the manger should 

 be amply sufficient to allow a horse to eat his food without 

 danger of his spilling any of it, to aid which object, it is well 

 to have the edge of the manger turned a little inwards and 

 downwards. The fact of the sides of the manger sloping 

 downwards slightly towards the centre, and the bottom of the 

 manger being hollowed out, will help the animal to take 

 up his food easily. Among ready-made iron mangers, the 

 intending purchaser will find a large variety to select from. 

 As horses when feeding from mangers which stand out 

 abruptly from the wall are apt to hurt the front part of the 

 fore-arm just above the knee, by suddenly lifting up the leg 

 from impatience, or from some irritation, and as the presence 

 of such a projection is liable to cause a horse to become 

 " cast," if he gets his head under it when he is lying on the 

 ground ; the front surface of the manger should slope down- 

 wards and forwards, or should be perpendicular. The accident 

 of hitting the leg in the manner just described, is by no means 

 unfrequent, and in hunters and other 'cross-country animals, 

 is usually put down to " chancing " fences. With existing 

 mangers that have the defect in question, it is better to fill 

 up the vacant space with masonry than with wood, which is 



