a long rod, and for years was not a sure foal getter, but 

 since I have adopted this rule eighty-five per cent of all the 

 mares he serves, have colts." 



I believe Mr. Nelson's theory is correct. I have re- 

 peated this (Nelson ) practice to several large breeders since, 

 that told me. "I now know why one of my best horses was 

 a failure as a breeder, he was almost barren, also saying he 

 had the longest rod on him you ever saw." Again I person- 

 ally knew of several mares, bred year after year called bar- 

 ren, but, when let run with a young stallion colt out in the 

 pasture, that bred without trouble. That I believe would 

 always have remained barren if hampered and hobbled and 

 helping the horse to pass beyond the proper limit. That, a 

 mare can prevent when loose in the pasture, by stepping 

 forward. 



I have owned ten or twelve stallions and seven or eight 

 jacks and several times, ju^t as the stallion was getting off, 

 it looked as though all of the semen was spilt on the 

 ground. I said to the groom, write on the stud book for 

 that mare, that all spilt out, and let us see the results. 

 Each mare stood from the spilt covers, to my surprise. 



I now remember that the jacks had all advantage of the 

 mare in the stocks, and universally a long root, and went 

 too far and did not prove sure as stallions do. I think that 

 was the cause of failure. I feel certain that mares will all 

 step forward, when loose in the lot, when the horse or jack 

 on them hurts them by going in too far; a violation of ani- 

 mal nature and costly to the owners. 



Western and Texas Cavelry yard studs are good herders, 

 they keep their bands together on their own range near 

 water; owners know where to find them, but he may be the 



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