BREEDING HORSES FOR PROFIT 203 



managing a stud is not to allow it to become 

 sick, like an over-stocked fowl-run too frequently 

 does. 



There is no reason whatsoever why farmers 

 should not devote more attention than they 

 usually do to breeding a few well-bred horses, 

 or even thoroughbreds. A good type of success- 

 ful gentleman farmer is Mr. Russell Swan wick, 

 who is tenant of the Royal Agricultural College 

 Farm at Cirencester, and who permits the students 

 to walk over his land and go into the accounts for 

 a consideration of a small premium per head. 

 Other instances may be mentioned, such as Mr. 

 Sapwell and Mr. Ernest Higginson, both resid- 

 ing near Reepham, in Norfolk, who have made 

 blood-stock profitable, by dint of careful super- 

 vision, on ordinary farms, which they have gradu- 

 ally improved according as the demand for 

 paddock and stable accommodation became neces- 

 sary as extra brood mares were bought or bred 

 by them. 



In the case of cart mares, by all means work 

 them up to within a few days of foaling ; of course 

 be reasonable, and therefore humane, as the births 

 of the foals draw very near. 



Mares that have been ofiven about as much 

 corn as they will eat — such as racehorses — re- 

 quire extra feeding when they are sent to the 

 stud. Two feeds of corn a day after they have 

 been six months gone. 



According to the soundest authorities, every 

 precaution should be taken against excitement, 

 as they are apt to slip their foals towards the end 



