The ramp, or top iron bar of the stall division, may be of almost any shape or contour desired

The ramp, or top iron bar of the stall division, may be of almost any shape or contour desired, and is grooved to receive the boarding, if such be carried up to the top, or else to receive moulded iron bars or open grating. It should be at least 7 feet high at head, and may run horizontally to heel post, so obscuring one horse from another if the boarding is carried right to the top. The ramp may fall in a straight line, or curve in a sweep to some 4 feet or 4 feet 6 inches at the heel. At some 3 feet 9 inches to 4 feet 6 inches from the floor a middle rail may be inserted (see Figs. 35 and 36), and the space between this and top rail be filled up with some plain wrought-iron bars or with some cast- iron pattern. It is a matter of opinion whether the division at the head end of the stall should be left open or closed, many being of opinion that horses can eat more comfortably if not interrupted by seeing one another. It can be filled in with sheet iron if so desired.

A complete finish to the stable is obtained by fixing a half-post and lining against the wall which forms the side to the stalls at each end of the range.

The panelling itself should be of strong wood, such as oak or pitch-pine, and of ii, 2, or 2\ inches thickness, according to the strength of the horses to be provided

for. The generally accepted method is to fix the boarding vertically, but it is sometimes preferred that the boards should run horizontally, in which case they should be secured at head of stall into a channel iron made for the purpose. A strong form of division is one in which two layers of sheeting are used, laid vertically on one side and horizontally on the other.