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leap, it is the safest, as well as the most humane method, to suffer the 

 mare, kept at moderate labour, to carry her burden, which may either 

 be destroyed as soon as foaled, or given to those who will be at the 

 trouble of rearing it by hand. 



Notwithstanding all that has been written in favour of giving the 

 brood mare the occasional respite of a fallow season, profit seems to have 

 dictated and confirmed the custom, of keeping her annually and con- 

 stantly to her proper business. The former practice may, however, 

 be suitable to convenience, and a mare from having bred, loses few or 

 none of her good qualities for the saddle, or any other purpose. 

 Brood mares have been successful Racers, as well as covering stallions. 

 It is a truly excellent and advantageous method, to put a valuable 

 hackney mare, injured by work, to the Horse, in her eighth year. 

 Suppose her left intirely at her ease, until her foal is weaned, she may 

 be allowed to breed another foal, doing moderate labour in the interim, 

 and may be rationally expected to have recovered her soundness after 

 having weaned her two foals. 



Stallions of repute are too valuable to be exposed to any risk, other- 

 wise, they may be hunted, ridden hackney, or applied to any appro- 

 priate labour, out of, but never during the covering season. In course, 

 worked or not, they must be kept full of good meat, throughout the 

 year. I would particularly advise a gentle dose or two of physic, be- 

 fore the covering season, and during the midst of it, should a Horse 

 be heated and inflamed, and his appetite decreased, as sometimes hap 

 pens, a single course of Glauber's salt, with mashes, will be beneficial 

 to him, and restore his appetite and vigour. In this case, no mares 

 must be offered him for several daj^s. Nor should he ever cover more 

 mares in a day, than he can serve with sufficient vigour. In this re- 

 spect, there is much difference in the constitutions of Horses. Many 

 inconsiderate persons suppose, that, provided a foal be the result, every 

 intent is answered; but I have too often witnessed the different size, 

 form, powers and stamina of colts, got by the same Horse, when in 

 full vigour, and afterwards, when exhausted by covering, not to be 

 convinced of the futility of that common opinion. A celebrated son of 

 King Herod, whose services as a covering stallion, produced a con- 



s siderable 



