Chapter Five 

 THE BROOD-MARE 



Best Way to Purchase Mares. The Ideal Brood-Mare. 

 Pedigree. Care. Preparing for the Foal. Care of Mare 

 and Colt after Foaling. Breeding the Mare. Care of Mare 

 and Colt in the Pasture. Weaning the Colt. Mare on Winter 

 Diet. Age at which to Breed. Developed Mares. Inbreed- 

 ing. Selecting a Mate. First Impressions. Importance of 

 Natural Speed. 



HAVING founded your stock farm and pur- 

 chased your stallion, let us now consider 

 the purchase of brood-mares. 

 As soon as it becomes known that you are in 

 the market for mares you will be besieged with 

 letters from brood-mare owners in such numbers 

 that you may be led to the erroneous conclusion 

 that all brood-mare owners are anxious to sell. 

 If you " follow up " each letter you will lose much 

 time and spend a considerable but useless amount 

 in railroad fares, for it is inconceivable that every 

 mare offered will suit you. 



BEST WAY TO PURCHASE MARES. 



In many respects the best way to purchase your 

 brood-mares is at auction. By purchasing at 

 auction you secure the mares at the public valua- 

 tion ; you get them all at once, and are not put to 

 the expense nor risk of shipping the mares to your 



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