376 HORSES ON BOARD SHIP. 



be placed semi-circular iron bars over the top to give it 

 solidity, and to afford support for coverings. In bad weather, 

 water-tight white canvas covers, properly secured, act well. 

 In very hot weather, an awning may be required. Strong iron 

 rings should be let into the deck, to enable the box to be 

 firmly lashed down. 



The inside of the box should be thoroughly well padded 

 throughout its entire extent. Straw padding, covered with 

 canvas, as is generally used, proves ineffective ; because it 

 soon gets hard and works downwards, and thus leaves the 

 upper portion of the woodwork unprotected. I would strongly 

 advise the employment of large pieces of felt, to be secured 

 by being laced through holes bored in the planking, so as 

 to dispense with the use of nails of any kind, next .to the 

 horse. 



The feeding trough or manger which is provided with a 

 sea-going horse-box, is generally much too narrow. It should 

 be at least 13 in. deep and 13 in. wide at the top, and the 

 sides should slope towards the centre, so as to help the animal 

 to reach his food. 



With respect to the nature of the floor upon which a horse 

 should stand, whether in box or stall, during a sea voyage, 

 we should bear in mind that the two great dangers from which 

 he is liable to suffer are loss of foothold and laminitis. Such 

 risks as those of shipwreck and being washed overboard do 

 not come within the province of this chapter. The famous 

 Blue Gown, Prince lo, Ossory, who was own brother to 

 Ormonde, and scores of other valuable animals have lost 

 their lives from stress of weather during the short passage 

 across the Atlantic. These accidents usually occur from 

 the horse losing his footing, in which case he will probably 

 either get dashed from side to side, until the life is knocked 

 out of him, or he will struggle till he dies, as horses will do 

 when they get down and cannot regain their feet. As a 



