239 



violent exercise as racing, is neither humane nor safe. The above prac- 

 tice may, however, be rendered subservient to several useful views. 



Those accidents incident to breeding, may deserve repetition here, 

 since they assume a greater conse(|uence from the superior value of 

 racing stock. In looking over the occurrences of the stud book, we find 

 a great number of abortions, but the fatality almost invariably attendant 

 upon the production of twins, is striking. Respecting the first, the ut- 

 most preventive case is necessar3% the best methods of which I have 

 already pointed out. There is a two-fold reason for our solicitude ; the 

 value of the foal and the health of the mare, which is sometimes not 

 easily recovered after a slip, the mare being thenceforth more liable to 

 accident, and less certain in standing to the Horse. Many excel- 

 lent brood mares have died in bringing twins ; and the mares being- 

 saved, generally one, or both the foals have been lost. Those mares 

 which have come under my observation, afterwards producing twins, 

 have appeared extraordinarily big and disposed to heaviness and dozing. 

 On such appearance, I would put the mare by herself, if she would 

 remain quiet, and allow a hovel or stable, well littered, to incline her to 

 lie down as much as possible, giving her two feeds of corn daily, with 

 her green meat, Supposing she had two foals within her to nourish, I 

 should have little apprehension of her growing too fat. In case twins 

 should survive, the trouble, indeed, would be considerable in rearing 

 them, but to do so, and well, is practicable. The accidents to whiclv 

 covering stallions are liable have been noticed. They should not be 

 put to the mare immediately after a full feed ; Hollyhock burst the rim 

 of his belly in covering a mare, and died in consequence. I have 

 spoken of the utility of purging covering stallions, a practice too gene- 

 rally neglected ; full as they are fed, and often without the benefit of 

 exercise, their intestines are liable to be enormously stuffed . Recourse 

 is then, perhaps, had to blood-letting, a method the most improper, and 

 of the least possible use. 



Having been so diffuse, or perhaps tedious, on the subject of form, 

 I have little to add on tlie choice of the Race-horse; both untried, I 

 would prefer a thorough-sliaped Horse of the worst reputed blood 

 upon the turf, to one of a materially inferior sha|>e, of the highest and 



