36 HORSES ASB HOUNDS. 



horse to acquire that indispensable requisite, which is commonly 

 called wind, or the power of going at great speed without dis- 

 tress. To any one acquainted with the anatomy of the horse, it 

 must he obvious that this power cannot be suddenly attained, 

 nor until all superfluous fat is gradually reduced, and the lungs, 

 heart, and kidneys got into a healthy state of activity. This 

 must be the work of time, and it cannot be done without. 



Ventilation also in stables is of the utmost importance to the 

 health of the horse. Over each stall a small aperture should be 

 made in the ceiling, and by having some draft holes in the front 

 wall, with a sliding board, fresh air may be admitted as required, 

 and thus the stable may be kept at a proper temperature. It 

 is, I think, a good plan to have the entire window turn upon a 

 pivot in the centre ; thus, when the horses are out at exercise, 

 the stable may be thoroughly purified. By scattering gypsum 

 or peat ashes over the floor, a great deal of the ammonia will 

 be absorbed. In many old stables, the declivity of the pitching 

 stones is so great as to cause a constant strain upon the back 

 sinews of the hind legs. The best plan is to have the floor of 

 the stables very gradually decline from each side to the centre. 

 In some of my loose boxes, which were large and square, the 

 drain was in the centre of the box, with an iron grating over it. 

 In any case the drainage from the stable should be quick and 

 effective, the pitching or paving stones regularly and nicely 

 laid • so as to throw off the urine into the main drains. Damp 

 stables are very injurious to horses, which are subject to rheu- 

 matic attacks, as well as dogs ; and the floor should be laid 

 upon dry coal ashes, with a layer of concrete over them. There 

 should also be a large outside drain, with a good fall, the_ side 

 nearest the wall being built up with bricks or stone laid in 

 cement, which will prevent any surface water soaking into the 

 floors or foundation of the stable. 



Whatever objections may be made on this score by grooms, 

 stables should always be both lofty and have plenty of light. 

 The want of the latter I am satisfied often causes horses to shy, 

 if it is not the primary or sole cause of this failing. There can 

 be no wonder that horses, kept in badly-ventilated and dark 

 stables, should be subject to ophthalmia and bad eyes ; the only 

 wonder is, that they can see at all, when suddenly emerging 

 from such dens into the broad glare of day. Starting and 

 shying are, it must be admitted, very great faults, by which 

 many serious accidents occur continually ; but both habits are 

 attributable to defective vision. Of late years more attention 

 has been paid to the construction and ventilation of stables ; 

 but still much remains to be done. 



