BROUGHAM 



are practically certain to breed a light foal, and, consequently, 

 if, as is usual, the horse is inclined to quality, and possibly 

 to weediness, the dam should be on the substantial side. 



It is impossible to draw any hard and fast line as regards 

 the aee at which a mare should be bred from, as some 

 very young ones, such as three-year-olds, have produced 

 excellent foals, and so, too, have mares which have reached 

 the limits of the twenties. As a rule, however, four years 

 old is quite early enough to commence ; but there are excep- 

 tions to every rule, and if a filly looks like overgrowing 

 her strength, and a check is desired to be placed upon the 

 way she is shooting up, this will often be accomplished by 

 breeding from her. Under any circumstances it is essential 

 that an in-foal mare should be well nourished, not necessarily 

 over-fed, as it must be always remembered that the good- 

 ness of the foal will depend to a great extent upon how 

 the dam is kept whilst she is carrying him. It is the worst 

 possible policy, therefore, to keep in-foal mares upon poor 

 land, or to deny them a sufficiency of good, wholesome food 

 if they are in the stable. There is no necessity at all for 

 not working; a brood mare until within a week or two of 

 the date when she is expected to foal, but work must not 

 be fast or of an exhausting nature during the latter part of 

 pregnancy. Under any circumstances she should not be 

 denied exercise, and reasonable care should be taken to 

 ensure her bowels being kept open, as if they become con- 

 stipated injury may result to the foal through her straining 

 to relieve them. Consequently, mares kept in the stable or 

 straw yard should be supplied with grass or other green 

 food, with the addition of an occasional bran mash if neces- 

 sary. (See Breedmg, Foaling, Imagination, Inversion of the 

 Uterus, Saturation, Stallion, Weaning^ 



Brougham. — A four-wheeled closed carriage for one or a 

 pair of horses used for private purposes. Broughams are 

 either double or single, the former providing seats for four 

 persons, the latter for only two. In either case the front 



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