50 



division, to boxes that are separated from each other by walls ; 

 for the horse is naturally a social animal, and his enjoyment is 

 greatly increased by seeing, as well as hearing his companions. 

 The strongest kind of partition between such boxes is " brick 

 nogging," cased on each side with board, and surmounted by 

 iron rails ; but an objection having been raised to brick 

 nogging, as affording harbour to insects, I have in some 

 alterations, I have made in my stables, substituted double 

 boarding of inch and a quaiter deal, ploughed and tougued, 

 and nailed through : the boards of one side are placed lon- 

 gitudinally, and those of the other side upright ; by this 

 arrangement much additional strength is obtained. The 

 boarding may be about five feet in height, and the rails 

 about three ; but, as the partition approaches the manger, 

 its height shovild be increased, and that of the rails dimin- 

 ished, so as to 23revent the horses watching each other, wliile 

 they are feeding. When one horse can overlook another, 

 while they are both feeding, they are ajst to swallow their 

 food, without }:)ropei'ly masticating it, either from the hope of 

 participating in their neighbour's share, or the fear of losing 

 some portion of their own. 



The question of space may be fairly left to itself, for, if 

 there be positively none, there ends the matter ; and if it be 

 doubtful, that trite adage, " where there's a vnil, there's a 

 way," will give the horse the benefit of the doubt. But the 

 real objection, which lurks at the bottom of all the others, 

 Is the power a loose box gives to the horse of lyiug down, 

 and " dirting " himself, after he has been made clean for the 

 day ; tliis is the insurmountable barrier, that has hitherto 



