If practicable, saddles and harness should be kept in a separate room and not hung up in the stable, as is often done; for the damp and ammonia that are given off to a greater or less extent in a stable, would be apt to injuriously affect them (pp. 47 and 48). Besides, a place is required in which to clean and dry the gear, as well as to stow it. As the room should be dry and clean, it is best to have the flooring of cement, and the walls and ceiling lined with match-boarding. If there are many saddles, they are most conveniently kept on brackets that are hung on the walls and have below them semi-circular holders of wood or metal, over which the head pieces of the bridles can be put. A bridle can in this manner remain suspended without the centre of the head-piece acquiring - as would probably happen, if it were hung from a hook - a wrinkle which would be unsightly, and would tend in time to develop into a crack. Harness can also be hung up on brackets, or put in glass cases. If the number of saddles does not exceed, say, six, they may be kept on saddle stands, which have the disadvantage of taking up a good deal of room. In any case a saddle stand is wanted for cleaning saddles, arranging girths and stirrup leathers, etc. Spare bits can be kept in a bit case placed, like the harness cases, against one of the walls. A cheaper, and, as I have heard, a much better plan, as far as the prevention of rust is concerned, is to put spare bits in a vessel containing paraffin (kerosene) oil. A few cupboards will probably be required, one of which, in a large stable, may be devoted to medicines and a few simple veterinary appliances.

The saddle room should have a good fireplace, which can be used for drying gear, supposing there is no drying room, and, if there is no cleaning and brush room, a boiler for supplying hot water. If it is used as a mess room for the lads, a range of appropriate size will be a great convenience to them. I prefer a good oil lamp, hung from the centre of the ceiling, to gas, which, when lighted, gives off sulphurous fumes that tarnish metals, especially silver (forming sulphide of silver), and have a destructive effect on leather.

It is desirable that the saddle room should be connected to the stable, so that the grooms going from one to the other in bad weather may not catch cold. It should not, however, be next to the horses, which might be disturbed by the voices or movements of the men. If there are several lads, as in a training stable, it is well to have their mess room, whether or not it is the saddle room, so far removed from the master's house, that any noise they may make will not be a source of annoyance.