[Blue skies and horse traffic]

Horse boxes when laden were always placed behind the engine to give a smoother "snatch and jerk" free ride to the animals.  The further down the train, the more noticable this is in any consist.

 

It is always good practice to introduce the horse to the box when it has arrived and the ramp is down.  And two people are usually used even with truck boxing these days.  It makes leading in, and closing of doors and ramps much easier with two people.

 

Some horses load easily and others are a  nightmare -  their daily disposition and attitude are no reflection on their likelihood to completely meltdown.

 

Our old champion jumper (Foxmead Benjamin) was "highly strung" and unpredictable, but show him an open horsebox and he would load himself into it, even when he wasn't due to travel.   The mare (Sophie) is placid, calm and cool as a cucumber until she is led to the box, and it is quite an exerience to see her coming backwards out of a box having taken 15 minutes to get her 3/4 of the way in........

 

When your brain is the size of a plum...........

 

As always - lovely modelling and writing.

[A pictorial record of horse manure]

Dealing with a dead dobbin, especially one in a stable or stable block complex is not a pleasant task.  

 

Due to the sheer size and rigor-mortis, removal in many cases would only be possible if the animal was made into manageable sized pieces.

 

There would be a larger "market" for raw horse flesh in those days than now.  Many more hunts about each with dog packs, zoos would take such meat, as well as police dog kennels,       and dubious meat pie makers........

[A pictorial record of horse manure]

Stunning modelling and writing as usual Mikkel.

 

A few "pointers" and responses to queries:

 

Horses usually repeat their location for dropping manure:  whether it be the same place in a stable, field or even a regular route.  Seeing/smelling another horse droppings can sometimes cause a horse to produce, but of course only when it's ready - but that explains the postcard of the mews with the long line.  Having the horse "produce" in the mews would be preferable to doing it en-route.

 

You are correct on colour caused by input, and it does darken off quite quickly.

 

Horse manure should not be used on gardens when it's fresh - it needs to age for 6 months or go into compost heaps.   

 

Manure has no discernible smell for at least a few days, unless it is mixed with urine.  It is also quite a dry product, unlike cows'.........

 

Straw is not popular with gardeners in compost because it doesn't break down very quickly:

On 16/05/2021 at 12:21, Compound2632 said:

 

I believe it is or was usual to combine straw with dung to produce manure - the straw being another waste product that could be recycled once it had decomposed. The manure has to be well composted to kill off bacteria in the dung.

 

 

If straw is used as bedding, "skipping out" will only produce manure - the waxy nature of straw means that it doesn't really absorb anything, and a good yard hand will only remove the muck not the bedding.  Some horses eat their bedding (which doesn't do them any good) so they would have a bed of wood shavings (in those days) or nowadays chopped flax stems or linseed stems.  These beds are very absorbent and skipping out produces some very wet caustic product, that smells and rots everything. 

 

As Mikkel has beautifully modelled, a good stables has a drain system for removal of liquids.  If left (or absorbed into absorbant bedding), that is what makes stables smell, attracts flies and can be the start point for equine diseases.

[Almost finished goods warehouse]

Excellent use for a corner - I am planning a furniture warehouse and was wondering how to road serve it as well. That looks like an excellent wat to fill the corner and physically join the upper and lower levels in terms of functionality. Where you have put your box I will add a second short siding for holding container stock.

 

Truly inspirational. Many thanks.