THE BREBDIXa ANU REARINQ OF COUTS. 193 



best are always cheapest in the end. It is true that the breeder's purse 

 must be considered ; but, be he rich or poor, it is always a money-losing 

 business to breed to an ill-formed male because he is cheap. 

 Xrv. Selection of StaUion and Mare; 



The selection of the stallion, while it vnW depend primarily upon what 

 the colts are intended for, should always be for the good there is in him. 

 He should be of full medium-size lor the breed, and should possess the 

 (characteristics we have previously stated, in writing of breeds. He 

 eihould be masculine in every fiber, with the distinguishing beauty, 

 strength, fire and courage of the male. Never breed to a feminine-look- 

 mg male. The outcome will alwaj's be a failure. 



Selection of the Mare. — The selection of the mare is no less important. 

 It is she tiiat is to nourish the foetus, and after birth give suck to the 

 young. The mare, whatever her size, should not be coarse at any point. 

 Her beauty needs to be feminine, just as that of the stallion must be 

 masculine. She should carry more muscle or flesh than the horse, be 

 more rounded in outline, but be finer in head, neck and limb, and thin- 

 ner in mane and tail than the stallion. Her strength should be that of 

 fleetness, her fire that of docile playfulness, and her courage that of am- 

 bition to perform. She should have a larger pelvis, relatively, than the 

 horse, and her barrel should be rather rounder and more roomy. Her 

 milking qualities should of course be good, for upon them depends, in a 

 great measure, the future usefulness of the colt. 

 XV. Service of the Stallion. 



The mare may be served just as she is coming into heat, but bettei 

 Just after her greatest passion of heat has passed. The best time for 

 service is early in the morning. After being served let her remain quiet, 

 or, if she seem fretful, walk her slowly about, and, after fifteen minutes, 

 turn her into a pasture that she may amuse herself eating grass ; but not 

 in a pasture where there is other stock. A mare will usually receive the 

 horse on the eighth or ninth day after foaling, even though she exhibit 

 no particular sign of heat ; if not, she may come into heat when the coH 

 is about four weeks old. 



Treatment after Service. — After being served, try her with the horse 

 on the ninth day ; if she refuse, try her again on the seventh day follow- 

 ing ; upon a second refusal, try her again on the fifth day after that ; if 

 she then refuse, she may be fairly conceded to be with foal. Above all 

 things, the mare should bo kept away from teasing horses ; from badly 

 castrated geldings ; from ridglings, or horses imperfectly gelded, and bear- 

 ing one testicle in the body ; from yearling colts, and from other mares in 

 heat. When once the time of heat is known, and service given, the 



