A capital ground surface for a stable-yard, if expense be no object, is one made of hard buff-coloured paving bricks laid on a layer of concrete. Hard blue bricks will be cheaper, but are less resistant to wear and do not look so well. If economy has to be studied, the centre of the yard may be laid down with gravel; and the edges with bricks, say, to a width of 8 ft. In a small stable, a space upon which to wash carriages will generally be required, and will be most conveniently placed outside, and at a distance from the coachhouse of say, 5 or 6 yards. This space may be made about 15 ft. square; it should be covered with waterproof material, such as bricks to match the pavement of the yard; and its sides should slope downwards and inwards (say, at a gradient of 1 in 20) to its centre, at which there should usually be a grating communicating with an underground drain.

Although gravel in the first instance is far cheaper than paving brick, the difference is made up in time by the greater expense and trouble in keeping it in order. Besides it harbours dirt and wet. Cobble stones are noisy and bad for the horses' feet; they retain damp and are difficult to keep clean.