154 



the period elapsing between a mare's going out of 

 heat and coming in again, making her periodical 

 term thirty days, twenty-one days is sufficient to 

 prove a mare. 



Every breeder should be able to judge of the con- 

 ception of a mare, which will require attention to the 

 following points : After the first service of the horse, 

 and before the next trial, on examining the vagina, 

 or bearing, as some call it, if conception has not 

 taken place, it will be of fresh, bright, or florid and 

 moist appeaxance, with a clear drop appearing at the 

 lower part, and which, if touched, will incline to 

 extend ; but if conception is present, a different ap- 

 pearance of the vagina will be presented. It will be 

 found dry, and of a dirty brown or rust color, and a 

 dark, brown-looking drop will replace the former 

 clear drop. Where these latter appearances are 

 present, pregnancy may be regarded as certain. — 

 They may be relied on as a sure criterion in the 

 purchase of a mare alleged to be with foal. 



Strange as it may appear, some mares, even though 

 with foal, if teased at about the expiration of the 

 first month, or part of the second, will be induced to 

 admit of the service of the horse. I have frequently 

 seen this proved. The author once put a mare to a 

 horse in May. She stood every trial. In harvest or 

 in September, I believe, I rode her by the stable in 

 which the horse was kept. She forced toward the 

 stable. I took her there and found that she stood 



