A riding outfit would consist of a gentleman’s or lady’s saddle bracket

Harness, to be kept clean and uninjured, should be placed in a room apart. In large stables where private carriage horses are kept the cleaning of leather, brass, and plate forms a considerable portion of a groom’s day duty, and so a room of size in proportion to the size of the stable is essential. The various brackets are made of malleable iron, which is japanned, galvanised, or enamelled, or may be capped with polished wood.

A riding outfit would consist of a gentleman’s or lady’s saddle bracket (Fig. 56), and of stirrup bracket, girth bracket, bridle bracket (Fig. 57). The whole set may be arranged one above the other, and would thus occupy a wall space of 7 feet 3 inches from floor by 2 feet wide.

Driving harness for a single horse is composed of pad, collar, rein, bridle, and crupper brackets, which may be arranged as shown in Fig. 58, the top bracket being fixed 8 feet from floor level ; and in the case of single harness 2 feet wide, and for double harness when the above brackets are duplicated 4 feet wide.

To better preserve harness from dust and damp, glazed cases can with advantage be used. The amount of harness to be put away will regulate their size. Bits and curbs are also placed in a glass case of their own.

Brackets or shelves should be provided for lamps, as also racks for forks and brooms carried by double hooks; and a cupboard for brushes, etc., is also necessary.

Whips may be carried on a circular wheel holder fixed to wall, or may simply be placed in a movable stand. Figs. 59 and 60 represent girth stretcher and saddle airer respectively, which are essential to a well ordered stable.

For cleaning purposes, hooks (Fig. 61) are fixed to ceiling, and are made telescopic and to revolve. Tables fitted with cupboards or drawers for the storage of rugs, saddle-cloths, etc., form part of the establishment, and can be made with saddle-shaped tops for cleaning harness. Such tops may be formed of folding flaps, which can fall to the sides or be folded flat and used as ordinary tables. In stables of small size the oats, wheat, etc., are kept in the stable in oak, wrought-iron, or galvanised iron bins.

Meters are useful when a check has to be kept on the supply which is fed from the loft above. A shaft for chopped hay, constructed of wood, may be also fixed in a suitable corner. Fig. 62 shows an arrange- ment which consists of a wooden shaft 3 by 2

feet or larger, the top of which may be level with floor of loft, or preferably be fed by a hopper. The food stuff then falls on to the planking fixed at a gentle slope, and passes to the other sloped boarding. Below this is a drawer which, when opened, has the food admitted into it by means of a vertically balanced shutter sliding up and down.

It is an advantage to place this feeding shoot in such a position that it will be possible to place the chaff cutter directly above the opening at top, so saving the intermediate handling.

Hayward Bros. & Eckstein, shows what is termed a ventilating guard

Hayward Bros. & Eckstein, shows what is termed a ventilating guard. This prevents the horse injuring himself, and at the same time avoids what, in the above- mentioned cases, is liable to become a receptacle for dust, etc.

Messrs. Musgrave & Co. have an arrangement made of iron (Fig. 48) which may be used for loose-box or stall, while it has the strength of an ordinary manger, and economises space. A water pot is shown recessed in the wall, the use of which is optional. If a hay-rack be made flush with manger it is wise to dispense with any iron rim at back or side, as this might annoy or even entrap the horse should he get his head sufficiently far down.

Messrs. Oates & Green manufacture mangers in salt glazed ware which recommend themselves on account of their cleanly and sanitary properties. They are made in what is called “ Nalethric “ fireclay, and are highly glazed ; they may be had in brown colour, cream, white, or light green, enamelled inside or outside.

Iron is used as brackets for fixing to the wall, and also for the hay-rack. Fig. 49 shows one of the mangers in section attached by means of wooden cleats, and built into the wall flush ; but many other means of fixing are adopted, such as by iron plates or bars or by a pillar support. The overall dimensions are 18 inches wide and 13 inches deep, length varying from 3 feet to 6 feet 6 inches.

Fig. 50 shows the general appearance of such a fireclay trough. This special one is made for a loose- box, and is fitted with lugs to fix into walls, instead of which they may be obtained with eyelet pieces to enable of their being bolted to wall.

For a loose-box which is convertible into two stalls, two manger sets should be provided, or a set with a centre and common hay division, as in Fig. 51.

To prevent crib-biting, Professor Varnel invented movable mangers such as that in Fig. 52, which close flush with wall. To accomplish this a space must be allowed at back of stall, which in the majority of cases would be inconvenient, except where a central feeding passage is used in the same way as used in cow-houses. Angle fittings are also made to close up flush, the inside of stall having to be fitted with a wooden shutter which covers up the manger opening.

The usual method of fastening a horse is from the centre of manger, but it may be accomplished equally well from one side or both, it being deemed advisable in some cases to tie the horse on both sides, so keeping him straighter, with less likelihood to disarrange his grooming before going out. The old method is to merely tie the horse to a ring, but some more suitable arrangement may easily be found. Fig. 53 shows a chain or leather strap which runs through a ring and over a pulley, and is attached to a weight which slides along a guide bar. This same principle as the above, but for cheaper stables, can be applied as in Fig. 54, where the ring slides up an inclined bar. In good stable fittings the weight and leather strap are enclosed in an iron casing and work perfectly noiselessly.

These loose-boxes form a range of their own

These loose-boxes form a range of their own, or are in conjunction with stalls. In the former case the doors would open in front of the box, and in the latter would probably be placed at an angle of 45 degrees, one of the angle posts thus serving the purpose of heel post to the stall division. A sick-box should, correctly speaking, have no connection with the stable, but should be kept apart, so as to give the occupant complete quietness ; and whenever possible it is desirable that this should be done.

A point to be considered in connection with loose boxes is the means of latching the door in such a manner that it will not open to any amount of “ nosing” from the horse inside, and yet may be easily worked by the attendant outside ; whilst at the same time,- like everything in the stable, it should give as little pro- jection as possible which would tend to injure or annoy the horse. Fig. 39 shows a latch made by the St. Pancras Ironwork Company, which appears to fulfil the conditions required, as it is perfectly flush when open ; but on the door closing the latch automatically enters the striking plate, and can only be opened by the handle on the outside.

Many devices have been designed for converting two stalls into a loose-box, and vice vcrsfl. They all leave something to be desired, but still are useful fittings where no loose-box is provided for, as is the case in many stable buildings. Fig. 40 shows various forms, firstly, where the heel post a is movable and the partition swings back against manger, thus forming a useless space. The partition b is a fixture with its post and door.

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.

The manure is removed from stables where horses or dairy cows

The manure is removed from stables where horses or dairy cows are kept and stacked in a heap, which should be covered and so protected from the rain whilst allowing a current of air to pass over it. The floor should be of good solid and smooth concrete, slightly sloped towards collecting grids, to which all the dark coloured manure liquid will find its way, and thence through pipes to a cistern to which is fixed a good-sized pump. Where cattle is kept for fattening purposes the manure is left to accumulate for several weeks before being removed ; in this case a great deal of the liquid becomes lost, and provision need not be made for its collection. There should be separate heaps for horses and cattle. Horses are housed in as comfortable a manner as possible, but the opinions of the owners are many and varied, and these should, above all things, be carefully studied. The loose-box of 12 by 12 feet or 12 by 10 feet is naturally the best way of housing a horse, but in most stables sufficient space is unobtainable, so stalls are provided instead; that is, spaces which should be 6 feet to 6 feet 6 inches wide (although many are put up as narrow as 5 feet 6 inches), and about 1 2 feet long to the gutter. Between each horse is placed a division. Iron is claimed to be the best and strongest material for the framework, but wood is preferred by many as being quite satisfactory and easily repaired in sittt, which is a great consideration in stables removed at a distance from any large town.

Stable floors have to be impervious, easily cleaned,

Stable floors have to be impervious, easily cleaned, not slippery, and such as will not require an over steep incline for drainage, and also of such a colour as will please and give the idea of warmth. When dealing with horse stables the part where most resistance is required is the floor of the stall, where the horse should stand as level as possible, and where ho can kick and paw without wearing away the paving.

The passage-way may be paved in some less resistant material, but, as a general rule, except where stables are built on the style of show places, the flooring is of

the same material throughout. Portland cement concrete of one part cement to six of gravel should first of all be laid to a depth of 6 inches and to the required falls. The finished floor may be of grooved cement, but it has a tendency to become slippery, and soon cracks beneath the continued pounding of a horse’s hoof. At A in Fig. 21 is shown a clinker brick of a dark yellow colour, 6 inches long, \\ inch wide, and 2 inches deep. It is made flat or with chamfered edges. For drainage purposes it should be so laid that the V-shaped groove formed by the bricks being laid side by side will conduct the urine in a straight course to the drain- age channel. For passage-ways the bricks may be laid herring-bone fashion. This is also generally done in the stalls, effectiveness of appearance being studied instead of utility. The blue Staffordshire bricks made in 2, 4, 6, or 8 panels, and 9 inches long by inches wide and 3 inches deep, give a most solid and

impervious floor. Their drawback may be considered to be the difficulty of properly draining or cleansing the chamfered channels, which continually cross one

another at right angles. However this may be, in some localities they are general favourites, and are extensively used. The St. Pancras Ironwork Company

have produced a paving brick of a blue-black or brown colour © which seems to meet a great many of the objections. The groove, semicircular in section, runs

in the middle of the brick, so removing any danger of leakage from a faulty or weak joint. This, like the clinker, may be laid so as to conduct the drainage

direct. It is claimed for these bricks that, on account of the mixture of clays of which they are composed, they will never wear smooth, but always give a firm foothold. The fall required is so slight that the difference of level on length of stall need only be of 2 inches. Paving may be composed of bricks on end, but these wear out easily ; or of granite cubes or rectangular blocks with roughened surface. They are apt to become slippery, and then require to be repicked. In granite districts they are extensively used, and are found to answer satisfactorily.

Boarding houses lie midway between private houses and hotels

Boarding houses lie midway between private houses and hotels, and so may perhaps be best considered in this chapter ; an example being illustrated in Fig. 19, which represents the Eversleigh Boarding House or Private Hotel, at Seaford, designed by Mr. J. W. B. Blackman. Intended for erection on a sea frontage, the rooms are naturally arranged with a large amount of window space, and on the upper floors with balconies. The ground floor is a somewhat curious combination of hotel and private house, with an office close to the entrance and a smoking-room carefully arranged in an almost detached position. The kitchens are large and give ready access both to entrance and to dining-room, while the bedrooms on the upper floors are so arranged as to be let out either singly or in groups for families.

On the top floor the division is carried so far that bedroom No. 18, intended for the proprietor, has doors opening on to two corridors, one apportioned

to guests and the other reserved entirely for the servants. this may be done, it is necessary to provide some means by which the impure air may find its passage out. A foul-air shaft, taken from the ceiling to a ventilator of some description at ridge level, will

afford the necessary means of exit. One or more shafts may be used according to the size of the stable, but they should be taken from as central a position as possible, although, for economy of space in the usual loft above, it is found oftentimes convenient to place

the grating in a corner of the stable and to carry the shaft in line with the rafter. At the same time, it would appear wise to secure the best means of ventilation, even though it may mean some slight inconvenience. A fixed iron grating may be placed

at the mouth of shaft, or else it may be covered with mesh wire or perforated zinc and have a wood door fixed in grooves, sliding so as to leave ventilator

closed or open at will, and controlled by a rope and pull carried over a pulley and fixed at a convenient place. This is shown in Fig. 20, and is a very usual arrangement, but any other of the many systems of ventilation already described in full in Volume III. may be adopted.