BREEDING THE TROTTER 



but oblique and heavily muscled. The legs 

 should be flat and fluted, skin not too thick, and 

 feet good. The mare should stand perfectly 

 straight both in front and behind. She should 

 have a deep chest. Her back should be short ; her 

 barrel roomy and well ribbed ; her quarters beau- 

 tiful, smooth and round, with heavy muscles 

 running well down to the hock. As in the stal- 

 lion, it is important that the mare have the best 

 possible hock, with no sign of coarseness. An 

 ideal hind leg is one along the back of which a 

 straight edge could be laid so as to bring the hock, 

 pastern and point of ankle in the same straight 

 line. The mare should carry the same beautiful 

 tail advocated in the previous chapter. In gen- 

 eral conformation the mare should be full but 

 neither too heavy nor too light. 



PEDIGREE. 



As to her pedigree, the remarks on the stallion's 

 blood lines are applicable here. It might be added, 

 however, that a mare that is a member of what 

 is known as a " brood-mare family " that is, a 

 mare with a direct line of productive maternal 

 ancestors, stands a better chance than any other 

 of becoming a successful producer herself. 



CARE. 



After securing your mares you should see that 

 great pains are taken to care for them properly 

 while on their way to your farm and after their 



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