8 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA 



made in the centre of the stalls. Tliis is, obviously, a 

 most objectionable arrangement. Another common trick 

 of these servants is to teach their horses to stale into an 

 earthen pot, which they hold for them, and thus get rid 

 of the fluid without it soiling the bedding. This is, in 

 my opinion, a bad practice; for horses that are accus- 

 tomed to it will often, if the syce be not ready to hold 

 the vessel, abstain from staling for a long time, and will 

 thereby be rendered uncomfortable. The litter should 

 be taken up twice a day ; every soiled particle of it should 

 be removed ; and the floor should be thoroughly cleaned 

 and dried. The less tainted portions of the bedding may 

 be dried in the sun for further use. 



The doorways of the stalls are usually baiTed across 

 by two poles — generally bamboos — which are let into the 

 walls at each side, the upper one being fixed about 4 ft. 

 from the ground. These bars are sometimes made to 

 slide through boarded passages in the walls, an arrange- 

 ment that will save the latter from becoming broken. 

 The best and neatest plan is, I think, to plant two strong 

 upright posts — in which are bored holes for the reception 

 of the horizontal poles — 10 or 11 in. from each side of 

 the walls at the doorway. The walls will then be free 

 from injury, and there will be no occasion to remove the 

 bars, unless when the horse is taken out or in ; for there 

 will be quite sufficient room for a man to pass sideways 

 between the walls and the upright posts. The bars are 

 secured by being lashed together with a piece of rope. 



Movable half-doors — as well as bars — may be provided, 

 to be used when the nights are cold. 



As a rule, hard-worked horses rest and thrive better in 



