78 STABLE BUILDING AND STABLE FITTING. 



Double 

 dealing. 



Kicking- 

 boards. 



Fig. 47A. 



are nearly always placed in a vertical position, they are some- 

 times preferred horizontal, as on Plate 56. In this case eight 

 deals form a very good height for a stall division, but a strong 



cast-iron grooved frame, or wrought 

 channel iron, must be firmly se- 

 cured in the wall to receive the 

 ends of the boards. This method 

 does not recommend itself as 

 superior to the ordinary fixing, 

 although it has been suggested that 

 it is tougher in resisting the heels 

 of the horses, and less likely to 

 open at the joints. This latter 

 should not happen if the wood is 

 sufficiently seasoned, is of the ne- 

 cessary thickness, and is properly 

 grooved and tongued. 



For the stalls of especially 

 powerful horses the partitions 

 should be made in two thick- 

 nesses of i^inch deal, one placed 

 vertically and the other horizon- 

 tally, both being ploughed and tongued and let into the post 

 in the ordinary way. An example of an extra strong stall 

 division with cast-iron column 4 inches in diameter, fitted with 

 harness-bracket and hooks, will be found on Plate 18 (Fig. i). 

 The boarding, 2J inches in thickness, is let into a stout cast- 

 iron ramp rail and wrought-iron sill. The extreme height is 

 7 feet, which is sufficient for all horses under 16 hands. 



Where the walls of stalls are unprotected, either by cement 

 or boarding, and the brickwork is consequently exposed to the 

 heels of the horse occupying either of the end stalls, it is neces- 

 sary to provide what are known as kicking-planks, consisting of 

 series of elm or oak boards about 4 feet in height, 12 inches 

 wide, and \\ inch thick. These should be firmly spiked to 



BALE. 



f r 1 1 f ^ >! '. ^ 



