212 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



is essential that she be in full possession of her natural 

 strength and powers ; the form should not be defective, 

 nor should there exist want of blood : the absurd idea 

 of having a big-bellied and long-backed mare, is, or 

 ought to be, exploded. The vigour of the constitution 

 determines much more in favour of the foal than the 

 size of the dam's belly. It is a great error to suppose 

 that a mare that has once been good, and capable 

 of great exertion, should, when old, and no longer fitted 

 for ordinary work, produce offspring equally efficient 

 as when in her prime ; the foal must inherit some 

 of the weakness of the present nature and broken-down 

 constitution. Mares will breed at four years jold ; some 

 call in the stallion at three ; but when two years only 

 are allowed to elapse, the system should be reprobated 

 for many reasons : strength and beauty at such an age 

 must still be absent ; and thus not only is the dam 

 rendered inefficient sooner than another that has been 

 allowed to run longer, but the foal can never be ex- 

 pected to be either healthy or strong in constitution. 

 One month after foaling the mare may be put to the 

 stallion ; although nine days will sometimes suffice, yet 

 this is generally deemed too early, as the dam is ne- 

 cessitated to nourish two offspring at the same time, 

 which is excessively weakening, and liable to injure 

 one or other of the foals. 



The sign of a mare being in heat is the ejection of a 

 viscid w^hitish lymph, and the inflation of the lower por- 

 tion of the vulva; she neighs frequently, and exhibits 

 great desire for the horse : when she has conceived 

 she shows no further desire, and the fluid stops, which 

 is generally a certain sign. The sixth month decides, 

 when she should be allowed good substantial food ; two 

 feeds of corn every day. At this age abortion is liable 

 to occur ; hence great gentleness and care should be 



