248 . THE HORSE IN SERVICE 



brick, stone, concrete, terra-cotta block, or plaster. In the use 

 of these materials for construction it should be borne in mind 

 that a solid wall of masonry is cold and damp, and therefore 

 sweats when the moist, wann air of the stable comes in contact 

 with it. ^\llen horses are to stand next to outside walls they 

 should be built with a hollow centre for a dead air space. Either 

 concrete blocks, the hollow tile, terra cotta, or plaster have this 

 advantage over the solid wall of stone or brick or the poured 

 concrete construction. The plaster or stucco, either rough cast 

 or smooth finished, on expanded metal lath, is a form of con- 

 struction which has proved very satisfactory in a limited way 

 and is comparatively inexpensive. 



Dimensions of a stable are determined by the individual 

 allowance for stalls, alleys, floor space, and other requiromonts. 



Stalls are of two sorts, (1) tfi^ loose box stall and (2) the 

 straight, standing, or slip stall. Box stalls allow a horse more 

 liberty, either standing or lying doA\ai, and freedom to roll, an 

 opportunity very much appreciated by most horses. Every 

 stable should have at least one, but on account of the additional 

 room and extra care required they are not practicable for all 

 horses in large stables. The idea of turning a horse ^' loose " to 

 " run " in a box stall is unreasonable. There is no advantage 

 in having them larger than twelve feet square except in the case 

 of a maternity or hospital st:all, where it is necessary to get about 

 the horse readily and to accommodate a foal. The straight stall 

 is the one in Avhich the majority of horses are confined, and 

 should be of sufficient length to protect the horse from being 

 kicked liack of the heel post, and wide enough to enable him to 

 lie down in comfort, yet not to induce him to attempt to roll. 

 At least eight feet from manger to heel post and five feet in 

 width is necessary for that purpose, the size of the horse to 

 govern. Horses shoAv better in shorter stalls, and in sale and 

 show stables safety is often sacrificed on this account. 



Stall partitions should be about eight feet high in front and 

 five to six feet in the rear, heel posts carried to the ceiling, and 

 should not be built up solid, but be open to allow a free circula- 

 tion of air through the stalls. In a stall with solid walls the 

 horse lying down is deprived of fresh air to such an extent as to 



