THE PRACTICAL HORSE BARN 4O9 



is often overlooked and many barns are so situated that 

 it is practically impossible to drain the soil sufficiently to 

 prevent muddy lots with all attendant disadvantages. 

 Choose a slightly elevated location if possible, so that the 

 water naturally will drain away in all directions. Dryish, 

 sandy soil is preferred, as thfe water drains out readily and 

 there is no trouble from mud about the barn. Through- 

 out much of the country, however, the best that can be 

 done is to locate the barn on slightly sloping land, which 

 should be well underdrained before the barn is con- 

 structed. Any protection against prevailing north and 

 west winds in the winter season, such as hills, trees or 

 any other natural objects in the track of the regular 

 storm, should be made use of, but cool and refreshing 

 winds should not be hindered in their direction during the 

 summer. 



Ventilation. — In the construction of the horse barn one 

 of the most important considerations is thorough ventila- 

 tion. It is essential that the hard-working horse be sup- 

 plied with an abundance of fresh air while he is resting. 

 Not only does a damp and poorly ventilated stable lessen 

 his efficiency, but it also increases the liability to disease. 

 It is comparatively easy to ventilate the horse stable, as 

 the horse does not suffer from the cold so much as some 

 other farm animals. If the introduction of an abundance 

 of fresh air should lower the temperature to the freezing 

 point no harm will be done, providing the air is admitted 

 at many small openings. Large and few openings, how- 

 ever, tend to produce strong and dangerous drafts. There 

 are a number of methods by which the horse barn may be 

 ventilated, chief of which are the windows, grates and 

 ventilating shafts. 



In ventilating tightly ceiled barns, shafts are preferred. 

 While there are many methods of arranging these ven- 

 tilating shafts, they consist essentially of two parts, the 

 inlets and the outlets. The inlets should be numerous, 

 of small size, and placed on all four sides of the stable in 



