7 if) Live Stock, Horfis Breeding and Rearing of. 



is the cafe in the fens and marfhcs of Lincolnfhirc, and fame parts of the North 

 Ridin&quot; 1 of York (hi re,* as well as other diftriclis : In fuch fituations, however, 

 with proper knowledge, and due care in the management, great advantage may 

 often be derived. Wherever this fyftem is undertaken, the fame care and 

 judgment muft be exercifed in (electing fuch mares and ftallions as are the 

 moft fuitable for the particular purpofe which the farmer has in view in 

 breeding them, as have been recommended in the propagation of other forfs 

 of live ftock, as without this fort of attention it is impoflible that the greateft: 

 benefit can be obtained. The too common cuftrom of breeding from any mare that 

 may chance to be in the pofTeffion of the farmer mould never be adopted. It is 

 only by covering well-made and tried mares by ftallions that are equally well-formed 

 and known fortheir good qualities, whatever the breed may be, that valuable 

 horfes can be produced. 



Thefeafon of putting the mare to the horfe is th? fpring, as April or May, as in 

 breeding colts it is of material confequence to have the foals dropped early, often fo 

 foon as in February or the preceding month.* In Yorkfhire the moft ufual period 

 of foaling is about May-day, and that of weaning towards the latter end of Sep 

 tember. In the length of time that a mare goes with foal there is frequently conft- 

 derable variation, but it is moftly about eleven months. This is a circumftance 

 that Ihould be kept in mind by the breeder. 



While with foal, it is of importance that the mare be kept pretty well, as in the 

 contrary cafe the foal is feldom fo fine or healthy. It is a practice with fome farm 

 ers to perform the work of their farms with breeding mares ; but this method 

 requires much caution, and is always attended with a degree of danger. Befides 

 it can jfcarcely ever be worth the farmer s while to breed where the foals will not 

 defray the expenfe of keeping the mares without their performing much work, 

 cither before or after they have foaled. In fome cafes, efpecially with farm-mares, 

 it may, however, be beneficial to work them a little carefully, by way of exercifing 

 them, but they (hould not on any account be hard wrought when with foal or 

 while fuckling. 



The fcals mould continue to fuck till towards the beginning of October or No 

 vember, the mares being kept as well as poflible, in order that their growth may not 



* Corrected Reports of Lincolnfhire and the North Riding of York/hire, 

 i Annals of Agriculture, vol. XXXIV. 



