MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. 67 



days. For a three-year-old the limit should be 

 from 25 to 30. A horse will average about three 

 covers for every foal he begets, if he is reason- 

 ably sure, taking mares as they run through 

 most country districts. If a three-year-old gets 

 half his mare in foal, or 15, he will make about 

 45 covers or about three to the week for the 

 15 weeks of the season. This makes about one 

 every two days, not counting Sunday. For a 

 four-year-old from 40 to 50 mares are enough. 

 He may make a slightly longer season, or about 

 115 days, and if he gets 25 foals he should make 

 75 covers. This is about three every two days. 

 A mature horse should be limited mostly to two 

 covers daily, perhaps three at a pinch, but 

 never more, and then seldom. It is better to 

 be conservative in this business of breeding 

 mares. Remember that it is the number of 

 foals begotten that in the end pay the bill, not 

 the number of mares covered. 



Watch out sharply and never breed a mare 

 that shows any sort of abnormal discharge from 

 the vagina. If she has such a discharge she 

 will not get with foal anyway, and she may give 

 the stallion some virulent disease. If by care- 

 lessness or unavoidable occurrence the horse 

 has been allowed to serve a mare with an 

 abnormal discharge the entire penis should 

 immediately be washed with a 1-100 solution of 

 a good coaltar dip and the sheath should be 

 freely syringed to head off possible infection. 



