THE STABLE 81 



to prevent the retention of the urine, the smallest possible 

 slope should be allowed, which would proceed uniformly to 

 the bottom of the stall. A central grating with a cesspool 

 is an imperfect remedy for the evil ; for there must still be a 

 general inequality of surface to carry the urine to the centre. 

 It is further injurious by retaining the urine we wish to 

 avoid, and moreover, it promotes a draught of cold air from 

 without, if it be so constructed as to carry the urine out of 

 doors. It may also be remarked that a central cesspool is 

 utterly useless for mares. It is therefore the best plan to 

 furnish each stall with a grating placed over a small 

 trapped drain, at the foot of each stall, which will carry 

 off both the urine and the washings into one general 

 cesspool out of doors, and from which, being stopped by the 

 trap, nothing offensive can pass up through the gratings." 



The Loose Box. — A loose box is an immense comfort to a 

 horse after a day's hunting, or a hard journey in saddle ; he 

 can lie in any position that he may find gives the greatest 

 ease to his wearied limbs ; and if put into one the night 

 before he is to go hunting, it ensures him a sound night's 

 rest undisturbed by other horses, or persons passing through 

 the place. It is true that this luxury of stretching their 

 legs is not required constantly or generally by horses ; for 

 though, after a hard day's hunting, a horse may, at times, 

 be found lying on his side, with his legs stretched out at 

 full length, he must be very tired or very ill to have 

 recourse to such an unusual position. The reason for this 

 is that the roundness of a horse's ribs is such that it is a 

 most uncomfortable and unnatural position for him to lie 

 on his side for any length of time. A horse in good health, 

 under ordinary circumstances, will never be found on his 

 side ; he is either ill or has had an accident when you find 

 him so. Having said so much on the formation and 

 structure of boxes, and having pointed out under what 

 circumstances they are most needed, let us see how far i\ie,y 

 are applicable and useful in general stable practice. 



We need not insist upon the fact that the habit and 

 disposition of the horse are those of a very social animal ; 

 and although being quiet and alone may at times be good 

 for him, as it is to a sick man, yet solitude, if long con- 

 tinued, is a severe and irksome punishment to him. Any- 

 one who has watched the " knuckering " of a horse when 

 his companions return to him after an absence — his silence 



6 



