224 THE HOKSE IN AMERICA 



ning water is most desirable if not necessary. But 

 it should be restricted to two hydrants, one for 

 carriage washing and one for drinking water. The 

 surface drainage can be got rid of by having the 

 floor of the stable a little bit elevated above the 

 surrounding ground. Where the stable can be lo- 

 cated so that there is declining ground on one side 

 other than the exit, there is natural drainage 

 which is a great advantage. The stalls also should 

 have a very slight incline, so that they will keep 

 dry naturally. This stall inclination, however, 

 should be very slight, as it is desirable that a 

 horse should have all his feet pretty nearly on the 

 same level. 



Box-stalls or not? This is a disputed matter. 

 Some owners have only box-stalls in their stables ; 

 some none at all. In my opinion both ideas are 

 wrong. Cutting up a stable into a series of boxes 

 does not facilitate drainage, ventilation, light, or 

 cleanliness. Then again it is doubtful whether a 

 horse in a loose box-stall does not often acquire 

 habits of independence that are sometimes un- 

 comfortable and dangerous. In a stall a horse 

 is tied, he is also more easily observed and 



