314 NAYIN ON THE HORSE. 



kept to which she had been put. She lingered about the 

 stable and kept her heat up, and did not conceive until re- 

 moved to another field, when she immediately gave signs of 

 conception, and in due time brought a foal. 



Previous to the time of foaling there will be noticed a fur- 

 row-like fold on each side of the spinal bone extending from 

 the tail to the haunch. This, and the increased size of the 

 udder, or bag, are all the symptoms of approaching foaling 

 that will be observed until about twenty-four or forty-eight 

 hours previous, when there will be seen an adhesive substance 

 protruding from each teat, like drops of milk. This is a cer- 

 tain indication, and as soon as it is observed measures must 

 be taken to secure the safety of the foal, which will require 

 that the mare shall be kept in a suitable place, where some 

 careful person can look after her safety. 



Recurring again to the subject of i^utting a mare, I would re- 

 mark that the virgin mare, or one which has not for one season 

 had a colt, is to be put when she is found in season. But the 

 mare that has had a colt will be found in season some time 

 in the first month after foaling, and if it is desired to breed 

 her again, she must be put at this time. She should be put 

 on the ninth day after foaling. Some say the eighth; but I' 

 think the ninth better. Others prefer the eleventh day; but 

 it is dangerous to wait longer than this, for in nine cases out 

 of ten the mare will have come oif her heat, and Avill not 

 receive the horse until too late for that season. The chief 

 reason of this is, that suckling reduces the system of the mare 

 too much to allow conception to take place, and thus a year's 

 service of the breeder is lost. I have known many instances 

 of this kind. I know only one remedy for this, and it is too 

 barbarous to be practiced, and any one who would resort to it 

 should be punished by law. After putting a mare, the days 

 for trial are the ninth after service, the seventh after this, and 

 the fifth after this again, making twenty-one days. Some 

 return again, commencing with the ninth day, and follow up 



