CHAPTER XI. 



now TO STABLE A_ND GROOM A HORSE. 



fKBQUIBITBB OF A GOOD STABLB— THE ECONOMY 07 PROPER ARRAKOElCarTS 



— VENTIiATION- -GROOinNGh—ITS NTiCESSITY FOR ALL DESOBIPTIONS 01 

 HORSES— HOW PERFORMED — CLOTHING — TREATMENT OP THB HOSSB WB£1I 

 BROUGHT IN FROM WORK. 



Wb now propose to give a few brief and comprehensive 

 rules as to the mode of stabling and grooming a horse, 

 premising, always, that both these important branches of 

 horse economy are, for the most part, utterly misunder- 

 Biood and neglected in tlie United States, and that, where 

 they are so, it is utterly impossible that the animals can be 

 in a state of health, and comfort to themselves, or in a con* 

 dition to do good service to their owners. 



In a climate so uncertain, changeful, and in which the 

 extremes of heat and cold ]ie so far apart as in this coun- 

 try, the question of stabling is one of paramount im- 

 portance. The stable, to be of real utility, must be per- 

 fectly cool, airy, and pervious to the atmosphere in 

 summer ; perfectly close, warm, and free from all drafts 

 of external air, except in so far as shall be needed for ven- 

 tilation, in winter ; perfectly ventilated, so as to be pure, 

 and free from ill odors, ammoniacal vapors and the like, 

 arising from the urine and excrement of the animals at all 

 times ; perfectly dry under foot and well drained, since 

 nothing is more injurious to the horse than to stand up to 

 his heels in wet litter, decomposed vegetable matter, hia 

 own ordure, and slops of all kinds ; and more than one 

 acute and dangerous disease, — of which we shall only here 

 epeeify the '^scratches," as it is commonly termed in America, 



(139) 



