The Brood Make. 



639 



ways. Just how young it is safe to breed fillies or young mares is a 

 question concerning which there is great difference of opinion. Is it 

 safe to breed a two-year old filly? This is the question asked every- 

 where. In some cases it is perfectly safe, and in many cases it is far 

 from safe and positively detrimental to both the young mare and her 

 offspring. 



The advisability of breeding a two-year old filly depends upon at 

 least three important factors: First, the breed. Is the filly a draft-bred 

 mare? Horses of draft breeding mature much earlier than the lighter 



Fig. 4. — General-purpose farm team. slioiciii<^ draft blood and zi-cigliiiig between 



1200 and 1300 pounds. 



and more active breeds, so that a draft filly at two years old is often as 

 forward as a trotting or running filly at three years of age. Second, the 

 individual animal. There is considerable difference in the way mares 

 mature. Usually a smoothly turned, neat and well-finished filly makes 

 its growth earlier than a rougher, more vigorous individual. Again, 

 the feed and care have much to do with the early maturity of the filly. 

 One that is kept growing continuously will mature earlier than one 

 imperfectly cared for and which receives a set back each winter. Third, 

 the object sought. Is the question to improve the strain of horses 



