THE STABLE. 26 



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fore feet of the horse might stand on a 

 level. In whatever way, however, the stall is 

 made, it should be carefully cleaned once a 

 day, that none of that putrescent matter may 

 accumulate which generates ammonia, or that ^ 

 pungent vupour which is so abundantly found 

 in close filthy stables. An iron rack is 

 preferable to one of wood, being more easily 

 kept clean, and furnishing no splinters; which, 

 where wooden racks are used, sometimes in- 

 jure the mouth. The manger may be so con- 

 trived, as to slide into the wall like a drawer; 

 and then, while the groom is wisping him, he 

 would have nothing to lay hold of with his 

 mouth, by which practice horses often become 

 crib-biters. The heighth both of the rack 

 and manger should be such as to enable the 

 horse to feed with the greatest ease : the for- 

 mer is sometimes made so high, that the horse 

 is oblio-ed to exert the muscles of his neck 

 considerably, in order to reach *it ; and this 

 has been so placed, under an idea of its hav- 

 ing a tendency to make him carry his head 

 more gracefully : it is more probable, however, 

 that the only effect of it is to make the horse 

 uncomfortable while feeding. It has indeed 

 been lately recommended, as the best plan. 



