CHAPTER III 



BROOD MARES 



A LMOST everything that has been said above In 

 "^ ^ respect to stalHons applies also to the selection of 

 brood mares. The best brood mares, as a rule, are 

 animals that are rather small than large for their 

 breed. Perhaps the only difference in conformation 

 between the ideal stallion and the ideal brood mare is 

 that the stallion can hardly have too short a back or be 

 too closely ribbed, whereas a brood mare should be a 

 little longer in the back and body. The disposition of 

 a brood mare should be somewhat different from that 

 of the stallion. A brood mare should be high-strung 

 and full of nervous energy. The mothers of many 

 noted race horses, both runners and trotters, have been 

 mares so high-strung that it was almost impossible to 

 break them, and In some cases absolutely Impossible. 

 The stallion should be of a more quiet disposition; but 

 if the brood mare is inclined to be quiet and free from 

 nervousness, and still more, if she is at all sluggish, she 

 should be mated with a stallion that has the opposite 

 disposition. 



TREATMENT OF THE BROOD MARE 



Most of what has been said about the treatment of 

 stallions applies also to the treatment of brood mares. 

 The mare should be worked or exercised until within 



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