286 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



are allowed to pass into a trainer's hands. In this way, 

 and in this alone, will strength, stamina, courage, speed, 

 endurance — all that is most necessary in a racer — be 

 absolutely ensured. 



To turn back to the subject of breeding a good class of 

 hunters — a matter which I hope will interest ladies, for 

 whom I write — I have already given my ideas respecting 

 the best sort of mares to select for the purpose ; and I may 

 add that an animal during the period of gestation ought 

 not to be by any means kept and fed in idleness. Gentle 

 regular exercise, and plenty of it, will be good and health- 

 ful for a mare that is in foal. Her prospects of maternity 

 dating from May, she can with advantage be lightly 

 worked about a farm, or in any other way — provided that 

 she has been accustomed to it — until Christmas ; and even 

 when actual work is suspended, daily exercise should be 

 carefully continued. 



Dry uplands, and grassy ground of a hilly nature, are 

 excellent pasturage for brood mares, who should be kept 

 perfectly cool, and free from excitement of all kinds. An 

 abundance of fresh water should be allowed them — as 

 much indeed as they care to drink — together with a varied 

 supply of light nourishing food of a cooling nature. The 

 shelter-shed ought to open to the south, the entrance to it 

 being wide, and the flooring hard and very dry. 



The mare should be left quite to herself when foaling, 

 except in extreme cases, which fortunately very rarely 

 occur. It will, of course, be necessary to see that she does 

 not make her way to any dangerous place — such as an ugly 



