STABLE MANAGEMENT 263 



the horse is at speed ; then for about 18 inches the 

 breadth should be continually increased, so that it is always 

 a little wider behind the fingers than where they are holding 

 the reins at the moment. After a sufficient space has been 

 so tapered, the width may at once revert to the original 

 dimensions, by which method any appearance of clumsiness 

 will be obviated. Another very practical plan is to have 

 small bars of leather sewn across the reins about 3 or 4 

 inches apart, where the reins are usually grasped, to act 

 as stops, which no horse can easily drag through the 

 fingers, however wet and slippery the reins may become. 

 These stops are more comfortable if a thin piece of leather 

 is sewn over them as a cover, which also makes them less 

 conspicuous, the one slight drawback to them being that 

 they give at first rather a clumsy feel to the reins ; but 

 those whose lot it is to ride headstrong, awkward horses 

 do not mind a trifle like this when it enables them to 

 keep the control which they would otherwise lose. 



A third method is to have the reins plaited, which affords 

 a capital hold, though it is rather more clumsy, necessarily 

 making a very full handful. 



Stabling. 



It is not proposed to give any general plan of stabling, for 

 it must almost necessarily vary in form in every instance, and 

 when about to be built a competent architect will no doubt 

 be employed ; but mention may be made of a few details, 

 applicable everywhere, which, as experience has proved, 

 answer the purpose of keeping horses in the highest health 

 and vigour. Whether boxes or stalls are used there should 

 be a broad ample gangway in the rear, to allow space 

 for horses moving in and out, and also to afford 

 extra cubical capacity. Six feet six inches is the least 

 which should be allowed for this purpose, and 7 feet is 

 a preferable width. The cubical space allowed for each 

 horse should be 1,500 feet, unless the arrangements for 

 ventilation are very good, and it should seldom be below 

 1,200 cubic feet. Some arrangement is advisable for 



