CHAPTER XVIII. 



STABLING. 



THE stable should be built on a dry, airy location, 

 facing the south when possible. It should be warm, well 

 ventilated and lighted, and so constructed as to prevent 

 the exposure of the horse to sudden changes of temperature. 

 The stall should be sufficiently large to allow the horse to 

 turn around or lie down, with conveniences for feeding. 

 The" width should be not less than six feet, but when 

 practicable, it would be better to allow each horse ten or 

 twelve feet, to admit of a reasonable degree of exercise. 

 This is not merely a great convenience to the horse, but it 

 has considerable influence in preventing swelled legs, 

 getting cast, etc. It is also important in that it permits a 

 safer approach to a doubtful or vicious horse. It is the 

 common custom to make the floor inclining backward, but 

 this practice is unnatural, as shown by the fact that the 

 horse, when left to choose his own position in a field, will 

 almost invariably stand with his fore feet the lowest. See 

 illustration. 



The floor should be level ; and to permit this, and at 

 the same time keep it dry, it should be constructed as fol- 

 lows : Incline the floor backward about two inches, making 

 it water-tight, with an opening or drain at the back end for 

 the water to pass off. Arrange upon this an extra floor of 

 slats, about an inch to an inch and a quarter thick, and 

 five-eighths to three-fourths of an inch apart. The back 



(543) 



