58 BREEDING- 



months (which accurately taken are juft the 

 fame) or that the exad: given time varies in 

 different fubjefts, and is fo regulated by age 

 or conftitutio.-!, that there has yet been no cri- 

 terion fixed for a nice diftindion. The mat- 

 ter, however, if at all entitled to confidera- 

 tion, may be moft eafily reduced to a cer- 

 tainty, by any gentleman having a variety of 

 brood mares in his pofleffion, who will note 

 thofe that have taken the horfe but once in 

 the feafon, and take the trouble to book the 

 day of their bringing forth ; when by com.- 

 paring the whole, the exadl time of geftation 

 -will be nearly demonftrated, where no fe- 

 cond covering has intervened to render the 

 decifion imperfed:. 



The treatment of mares after being co- 

 vered is regulated entirely by the clafs to 

 which they belong ; for having twice refufed 

 the horfe at the periods of time before ftated, 

 they are then faid to be Jiinted, and conclud- 

 ed in foal. But this is by no means always the 

 cafe, for it frequently happens that fuch mares 

 produce no foals, although appearances are fo 

 much in their favour. Thcrcugh bred mares 

 (that is, mares whofe blood is entirely un- 

 tainted 



