STABLE FITTINGS. ■ 171 



was consumed by them during that period, at the same time weigh- 

 ing that eaten by the other three horses in the three- stalled stable. 

 At the end of the month I changed the two horses for two of those 

 in the three- stalled stable, and again weighed the hay consumed 

 by each. The result was, in round numbers, a saving of ten 

 pounds of hay per week per horse, and this was done without any 

 further limitation than the judgment of the head groom, who, 

 moreover, was prejudiced in favor of high racks. I immediately 

 introduced low racks into my own stables, and have used them 

 since with the greatest satisfaction and advantage. Such is tho 

 result of my own experience, and I find that all those of my ac- 

 quaintance who have tried the low racks, are strongly impressed 

 with their advantages, nor have I ever known an accident result 

 from them. The only place where they are dangerous is in the 

 loose box of the brood mare with her foal, where the latter may 

 damage itself by getting into the manger, but against this risk I 

 have cautioned the breeder at page 122. In those stables where 

 a long wooden manger is fixed, the alteration of a part to form the 

 low rack is easily accomplished, and the saving in hay will soon 

 pay for the trifling outlay. 



With regard to the material of which the racks and 

 mangers should be made, I am not quite so settled in my convic- 

 tions. Wood is undoubtedly the cheapest, and it has the advan- 

 tage in its favor that the horse, in laying hold of the cap with his 

 teeth, when he is being dressed, which most high-couraged horses 

 do, wears them out much less rapidly than with the iron manger. 

 This objection is met by making the cap so wide that the horse's 

 jaw will not embrace it, and with this modification I have nothing 

 to allege against the metal but its price, — while it has the advan- 

 tage that mice cannot gnaw through it, and that it does not become 

 decomposed by remaining constantly damp, which is the case with 

 wood. The iron is generally lined with enamel, but as I believe 

 that its oxide is absolutely advantageous to the health of the horse 

 when taken into the stomach with his food, I do not care whether 

 this additional expense is incurred or not. The enamel always 

 looks and is clean, which is in its favor, but, as I said before, this 

 is its only real advantage. With these preliminary observations, 

 I shall describe each, so that in fitting up a stable the proprietor 

 may take his choice. 



(1.) Wooden mangers may be economically made in part of 

 elm or deal, and in part of oak, which latter wood should ahrays 

 be used for the capping, on account of the wear occasioned by the 

 teeth, and for the bottoms, to prevent decay. The top of the cap 

 should be from 3 ft. 3 in. to 3 ft. 6 in. from the ground, and the 

 manger itself should be 13 inches wide at the top and 9 inches at 

 the bottom ; depth 1 \ inches. The caps should be 4 inches deep 



