THE PRACTICAL HORSE BARN 415 



into the manger nor directly in front of the horse, but Into 

 a small room separated by a door from the stable. Neither 

 should the bedding be thrown down in such a manner as 

 to cover the horses and harness with dust. 



The grain should be fed from a grain box with a level, 

 broad bottom. Some horses eat their grain too rapidly 

 and a large flat-bottomed box tends to make them eat 

 slowly, and hence to insalivate their food. Metal boxes 

 are preferred to wood, but are too expensive for common 

 use. 



The stable fittings, mangers, grain boxes and stall par- 

 titions should be constructed of hard wood. Horses love 

 to gnaw pine, and once they get into the habit, no matter 

 what the original cause, they are hard to stop. Further, 

 if the partitions and posts are of soft wood, the horses will 

 splinter them by kicking so that they are very unsightly, 

 as well as lacking in endurance. Even if the fixtures are 

 of hard wood it may be necessary to cover them with 

 strap iron to prevent the horse from gnawing and splin- 

 tering them by kicking, when feeling good, as in the 

 winter. (Fig. i8o.) 



Harness room or closets. — In constructing a; horse barn 

 special provision should be made for the care of harness. 

 Usually the harness is hung just back of the horse in the 

 stable. This is very objectionable, as gases escaping 

 from the manure are very destructive to harness, and it 

 frequently happens that the harness is knocked down 

 under the animal's feet and becomes soiled with manure. 

 To avoid this a harness room convenient to the horses 

 should be provided. If there are a great number of 

 horses housed in the barn it is perhaps more convenient 

 to arrange harness closets just back of the horse along the 

 wall and between the windows. A well-kept harness 

 room or closets is a source of comfort to the owner and 

 increases the usefulness of the harness. 



Flooring materials. — The stable floor should be dur- 

 able, waterproof and cheap. It should be so constructed 

 that the horse will not slip and injure himself in getting 



