Stable Management. 69 



fr@m the different complaints that usually attack a horse 

 summered in the field, and when the hunting season arrives 

 he will carry his master safely and pleasantly through runs 

 that will soon stop the other for want of real condition. 



The straw-yard is a popular method of improving the 

 legs of the over-worked horse, and in it he is turned duiing 

 the winter, with a shed to run into, and the soft manure or 

 litter in the yard to run upon. Hay is given, but seldom 

 more than enough to keep the stomach in order, and 

 barley straw affords the chief sustenance in most cases ; 

 sometimes a little hay is given cut as chaff with straw, 

 and in some cases also mixed with a feed or two of corn 

 per day. When a suitable winter pasture cannot be ob- 

 tained, the straw-yard is very efficacious for inflamed legs 

 and feet; and, as its small extent precludes all galloping 

 about, it is even more suitable than an open pasture. 



Notwithstanding these supposed advantages, there are 

 serious objections to the plan. Horses are often injured 

 by horned animals, or otherwise chased and irritated, that 

 rest is impossible. In our experience the wet and manure 

 of straw-yards are certain destruction to the feet. Thrush 

 and canker are the common results. 



Straw. — For the bedding of horses wheat straw is gene- 

 rally used. The greater part of wheat is now threshed out 

 by machine, and but little by hand, consequently the straw 

 is not so good, and does not last so long as formerly, the 

 machine breaking and bruising the straw so much more 

 than the flail. 



A careless groom will use at least one truss of straw per 

 week more to each horse than a good careful one will use. 

 The latter will be careful in the morning on turning up the 

 bed to separate the soiled dirty straw from that which may 

 be used again, removing the former from the stable behind : 

 then, after thoroughly sweeping out the stall or box, put 

 what may be a little damaged at the bottom, and the clean 

 at the top. Such a groom will use about two trusses to two 

 and a half per week, while another would use at least one 

 truss a week more. 



The best way to economize litter is to sweep the stall 

 or box out as dry and as clean as possible in the morning, 



