HARNESS-ROOM. 178 



which I have already described are introduced, and my reader may 

 judge for himself of their appearance, which is certainly, in my 

 opinion, extremely neat and well adapted to the requirements of 

 the horse. The stalls show the iron manger, rack, and trough, as 

 described at page 170. The floor is laid with blue paviors, cut to 

 fit the wrought-iron gutters alluded to at page 165. The loose box 

 is lined with inch deal, and the partition from the stalls is of open 

 iron-work. This also shows the corner manger-rack and trough 

 suitable for a loose box. The only objection that I know to these 

 very complete fittings is on the score of expense. 



I have already said that I object to corn and chaff-shoots 

 arranged so as to open into the manger, on account of the dust which 

 they bring down. If the corn and chaff are kept upstairs, a shoot 

 may be arranged so as to deliver them at or near the gangway, the 

 particular spot chosen depending on circumstances which will vary 

 with almost every stable. A granary, or corn-room, on the ground 

 floor, does not admit of a shoot. 



The walls of a stable should be lined, whenever they come in 

 contact with the horse, with inch elm or deal. Without this, in 

 cold weather, the brick or stone, whether plastered or not, is too 

 cold, and if a delicate horse lies down with his loins against it, he 

 will probably be attacked with rheumatism, or perhaps with in- 

 flammation of the kidneys. Usually, also, as I have already ob- 

 served at page 172, the head wall above the manger is lined either 

 with boards or enamelled plates, which have lately been introduced 

 as being cleaner than boards, as they undoubtedly are. They are 

 either of enamelled iron, nailed on to boarding, or of vitrified plates 

 set in cement, the latter being cheaper and having nearly the same 

 appearance. 



HARNESS-EOOM. 



Every Harness-Room should be provided either with a stove or 

 open fireplace, in order to dry the saddles, harness, and clothing, when 

 they come in wet. If, also, it can be so arranged that a supply of 

 hot water can be obtained, by fitting a boiler to the back of the 

 fire, the groom will be always provided with what he must occa- 

 sionally obtain from some source or other. No establishment can 

 be considered complete which does not provide plenty of hot water 

 when wanted; and if it is heated in the saddle-room, so much the 

 better. 



When the saddles and harness are cleaned, they must be 

 put away till wanted; and here they must be protected from injury, 

 either in the shape of scratches, damp, or dust. Harness and 

 saddle brackets are made either of wood or iron ; the former being 

 the cheaper, but the surface they present being necessarily larger, 

 they do not allow the stuffing to dry so well as iron brackets, which 

 are made to turn up and form a hook below, on which bridles may 

 15* 



