234 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALKR. 



impurities of the atmosphere caused by the breath and 

 stench arising from the interstices of the pavement, 

 which, however well the stable may be drained, will 

 always, more or less, be emitted to taint the air ; the 

 animals will prevent each other from taking or enjoying 

 their natural and often much-needed rest, as it is scarce- 

 ly possible or probable that they will all lie down at 

 the same time, and those who are standing often disturb 

 those that are lying down. It is a very important but 

 much neglected point, that horses should take their na- 

 tural rest without being disturbed, as they do their work 

 more cheerfully, and are kept in much better condition 

 than when they are harassed all the night long by a 

 peevish stable-kicker, of which there is almost sure to 

 be one or two for every half-dozen horses in a stable. 



By far the best plan of stabling horses is to have 

 them in separate Tsoxes, where it is impossible for them 

 to annoy each other, and where they can stand in any 

 position which may, from their particular infirmities or 

 conformation, be most easy to them ; they will also 

 have room to lie down and stretch their weary limbs 

 to their full extent, as we sometimes see them at grass, 

 where they are, as it were, in a state of nature. 



I have known many valuable horses kicked and in- 

 jured when placed for the first time in a strange stable 

 by the side of a stable kicker. There are some horses, 

 when not feeding or lying down, are always upon the 

 move with their heels or their teeth, just like some 

 irritable human beings ; they will neither rest them- 



