STABLE MANAGEMENT. 
675 
on the face of it, working horses are not in a natural condition ; 
it is not natural to live in stables, to draw loads, or have iron 
rings nailed on to their feet. What the horse is in his native 
wilds, wherever they may be, and what he is under domes- 
tication, are two very different things ; his habits are totally 
changed, and his functions materially modified. We 4 do not 
wish to exclude the aids of scientific reasoning on what an 
animal was evidently intended for by nature, but we do wish 
to state our conviction that, under totally unnatural circum- 
stances, the question of what is best to do or be done is one 
to be answered by actual experience, experience founded on 
correct knowledge of principles : the most philosophically 
correct statement may become the most arrant rubbish when 
some of its premises are altered. 
To begin at the fountain head, — a word about breeding. 
We are not about to tell the farmer how long he may work 
his mare in foal, or what sort of horse is adapted for his 
country, because we have an idea that farmers are in a great 
measure like other people ; they fancy they know their own 
business best, and, providing they find a certain system answer 
their purpose, they are not fond of trying experiments ; “ and 
small blame to them for that same. 5 ’ But we must take the 
liberty of asking some of them why they do not act up to what 
they know to be correct ? They have an idea, we fancy, of 
the meaning of hereditary transmission of disease ; on what 
principle, then, is the groggy, or broken- winded, or the blind 
old mare, when no longer of service, kept on just to “ get” a 
foal or two out of her? Do they fancy they are proceeding 
the right way to continue a healthy stock, or do they make 
their colts for the same purpose that a certain honest 
tradesman made his razors — to sell? 
Before we can hope to ensure a healthy condition of our 
studs, we must have a healthy constitution to start with, and 
healthy colts are only a very common sense consequence of 
healthy parents ; give us fair play, then, — in other words, 
give us some healthy material, and we will endeavour to tell 
you how to keep it so. First, as to the stable in which our 
animals for agricultural purposes are to reside. Of course 
most of those for whom we write have their stables built ; to 
those who have not we offer a few concise directions : and 
those who have may modify their establishments accordingly, 
that is, provided they think it worth the trouble. 
1 . Keep as far aw T ay from a northern or eastern aspect as 
possible : south before all, and west next. 
2. Swear by loose boxes, and don’t believe in stalls. 
