TI-IE PRACTICAL HORSE BARN 413 



vide sufficient space for the harness closets, behind the 

 horses along the wall. Immense barns, however, in 

 which large quantities of grain and hay are stored, and 

 many animals housed may have other objections which 

 offset the advantages of concentration and ease of feed- 

 ing. The risk of total destruction by fire is great, as are 

 dangers from contagious disease, and the like. Under 

 such conditions perhaps a number of medium-sized, well- 

 regulated barns, located some distance from each other, 

 would prove more economical in the long run. 



Box and straight stalls. — There are two types of stalls 

 'n common use, the box stall and the straight stall. In 

 ilanning and constructing horse stalls there are a number 

 jf factors to be taken into consideration, chief of which 

 fjre the comfort and safety of the horse ; the economy of 

 jbarn space ; the economy of labor in feeding, cleaning, 

 and the like ; the economy of material in the construction 

 of the stall; and facilities for lighting and ventilation. 

 The comfort and safety of the animal is promoted by the 

 use of the box stall. He has more freedom and can as- 

 sume any position, lying down and getting up with ease. 

 The economy of barn space is favored by the straight 

 stall. The box stall must be at least lo x 12 feet square, 

 while the straight stall need not be over five feet wide and 

 nine feet long. 



The economy of labor is promoted by the straight stall. 

 Not only is the box stall more difficult to keep clean, but 

 the animal requires more grooming to keep him in pre- 

 sentable condition. The feeding and bedding can be 

 more easily accomplished in the straight stall. The 

 straight stall also favors economy in material, as the par- 

 titions need not be so high as in the box stall. While 

 box stalls are very comfortable for the horse, yet they 

 are rather difficult to ventilate properly and hinder the 

 general lighting of the barn, particularly in case they are 

 boarded up solid to the ceiling. All things considered, 

 the straight stall is preferable for working horses, al- 



