154 HUNTING 



stantly exceeded, but the owner of the stallion boasts 

 of the fact, under the erroneous impression that it 

 proves the popularity of his horse amongst owners of 

 mares. As a matter of truth, it only prophesies debility 

 in the foals. Before leaving the subject of the stallion, 

 we recommend that a mare should never be sent but 

 to the same stallion during the course of her career in 

 the stud, unless it cannot possibly be avoided, provided 

 always that her first foal turned out well, as it is an 

 authenticated fact that a mare has a greater predilection 

 for one partner than another. Finally, it is the usual 

 practice to present mares to the horse nine days after 

 they have foaled, and, if the desired event does not 

 then take place, they should be presented again in a 

 fortnight. 



Owing to the rules of the Jockey Club as to the 

 registration of age, it has become the fashion to fix the 

 period when mares are to foal at as early a date in 

 January as can be predicted with any degree of 

 certainty; but the reasons for this fashion do not 

 apply to hunters. On the contrary, there are many 

 important objections to foals being brought forth too 

 early in the year, and the months of March, April, 

 and May are undoubtedly the most favourable periods, 

 when the dam can enjoy the green herbage of spring, 

 which is the best food for the secretion of milk, and 

 the weather is sufficiently warm to allow of the dam 

 and foal being released from their box. Even in 

 regard to weight-for-age races, many breeders of 

 racing stock consider an April foal to be equal to a 

 January foal, for the reason that spring herbage is 



