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reign of James I, forms the exception; and he pretends, on- experience, 

 to recommend that the mai-e should foal in the beginning of winter, 

 that her milk may be enriched by good hay and corn, and that the 

 foal, so nourished, will have acquired superior strength and spirit, by 

 the time the spring pastures are ready to receive him. I think since 

 De Grey's grand object was milk for his foals, the product of corn 

 feeding, he had yet better have suffered his mares to foal in the spring, 

 allowing them corn with their grass. In one case only I Avould adopt 

 the method of De Grey : in that of a barren mare, or one which could 

 not be induced to receive the horse in season, but from which I might 

 desire to have a foal. I have known such manifest very strong inclina- 

 tion for the horse, whilst kept in the stable, during the Avinter season. 



In mares difficult or capricious in this respect, the periodical inclina- 

 tion must be carefully watched and immediately gratified; yet although 

 plainly horsing, as it is termed, they often will not admit the Horse, in 

 which case they should invariably be forced, and these forced con- 

 junctions are probable enough to be successful. When no symptoms 

 of desire have appeared, particularly, the season being advanced, it is 

 common to force the mare ; such a cover seldom produces a foal, yet 

 may prepare the mare for a more prosperous engagement with the 

 Horse in a few days; or farther repetitions may be necessary. I have, 

 in another place, recommended a standing of posts, in which to se- 

 cure the head and feet of the mare, in preference to the common 

 method of strapping her legs together, from which a mare has some- 

 times disengaged herself and done great mischief Stallions have been 

 killed outright, by a kick of the mare upon their testicles, and it is rather 

 too much, needlessly to hazard the high-prized Horses of the present 

 times. 



The heat or desire of the mare is said to he periodical, throughout 

 the spring, returning every six, nine or fifteen daj^s. Having been 

 covered, she ought to be again presented to the Horse, at two of these 

 periods, and should she twice refuse him, she is supposed to be stinted 

 to him, or to have conceived. It is most secure, perlraps, to have the 

 mare covered twice, either the same day, or in two days. After foaling, 

 the mare will usually admit the Horse in three or fourdays,and thatearly 



period 



