H7 



and running thrushes. The brood mare, in particular, should have 

 a large and roomy belly, good loins and capacious haunches. As to 

 the size of the stallion, perhaps we are sometimes apt to run to excess 

 in that respect; yet I apprehend not much of practical consequence in 

 Mr. Cline's late recommendation of small-sized males. To render his 

 example of the Arabian stallion applicable, it is necessary, to presup- 

 pose him joined with a mare of his own species, and in his own barren 

 country. From observation I have conjectured, that twins are sometimes 

 the result of joining a mare, with a Horse much larger tban herself: for 

 example a hackney mare with a full-sized cart-horse. 



The stallion is certainly in perfection between his fifth and ninth 

 year ; but, granting health and soundness, an advanced age has not 

 hitherto been found any obstacle to procreation of the best stock; only, 

 in course, the number of mares in a season, covered by such a Horse, 

 must be reduced. Matchem, in his latter days, was assisted to mount 

 the back of the mare, and was daily nourished with cow's milk. 

 Albertus, an old veterinarian, writes, that he knew a soldier actually 

 serving upon a horse, which was seventy years of age, and yet accounted, 

 an able Horse; and Ferdinand the First, according to Niphus, had also 

 one in his stables of the same age. In short, we have known Horses 

 at more than thirty years of age, get good colts ; and mares, at nearly 

 the same age, to bear such. 



The procreative faculty would doubtless last much longer in the 

 stallion, but from the very liberal use, which immediate interest prompts 

 us to make of it. As to the brood mare, no man, one would suppose, 

 would refuse her the Horse, which continued, how ancient soever, to 

 produce foals; a mistake yet committed by an old friend of mine, who 

 gave away a hunting mare, the last produce of which, at five years old, 

 fetched one hundred guineas in those cheap times. The mare was sup- 

 posed tc» be worn out, yet afterwards produced six foals. This mare was 

 one of the highest leapers in her neighbourhood, and so attached to the 

 sport, that seeing the hounds pass her paddock in full cry, she took a 

 leap of pointed paling of considerable height, and landed in a descent by 

 the side of a well, whence golloping up at full speed, she joined the 



huntsman. 



