BREEDING. 59 



tainted with any inferior crofs, and kept as 

 brood mares for the turf only) are thrown 

 out to grafs for the fummer feafon without 

 farther confideration ; only taking particular 

 care that no geldings, or yearling colts, are 

 fuffered to accompany them in or near the 

 fame pafture, for fome few weeks after con- 

 ception. 



Mares of an inferior defcription in ge- 

 neral ufe for the faddle, or thofe for agricul- 

 ture, may be continued in their common em- 

 ployment with moderation, they feldom fuf- 

 fer abortion but by great and improper exer- 

 tions ; they are therefore very frequently ufed 

 till within a few weeks of dropping their 

 burthen, without the leafl: fear ot inconveni- 

 ence. This is a fad: fo univerfally eftablilhed, 

 that inftances have repeatedly happened of 

 mares obtaining Jiolen leaps when out at paf- 

 ture, without the knowledge and very much 

 againft the inclination of the owners ; this 

 circumftance, from various motives, has been 

 coniidered fo prejudicial, (where breeding has 

 not been intended) that difl'erent and powerful 

 methods have been adopted, as the adminiftra- 

 tion oi favine in large quantities, violent ex- 

 ertions 



