BEEEDINa, STOCK-RAISINa, ETC. 445 



able for developing the germ of the new life. As matters 

 are usuall}^ managed, the case is often far otherwise. One 

 time of the mare's meeting the horse, or once in nine days 

 for a few weeks, is not what Nature designed, and the cus- 

 tomary hurry is really detrimental to her. The wistful look 

 which she casts behind her as she is led away, indicates 

 plainly enough her pining for a little further companion- 

 ship. 



If well grown, the mare may commence breeding at three 

 years of age; but if she is still immature, it will be much 

 better to wait a year longer. Some persons are accustomed 

 to put the two-year old filly to a horse. This is wholly 

 wrong, for at thig age she is not qualified to breed at all 

 satisfactorily. It seriously retards her own growth, and may 

 greatly mar her form and beauty, while the effect "upon her 

 spirits is still worse. She will always be dull and heavy. 



As a general rule, it is not best to continue breeding from 

 the mare after she is ten or twelve years of age. Some will 

 breed successfully a few years longer, while others at that 

 age have already past their best days. Those that bring a 

 colt every year fail the most rapidly, they which possess but 

 little apparent vitality breaking down early. It requires a 

 nice discrimination to determine exactly when to cease breed- 

 ing from the mare ; but it will be better to stop a year too 

 soon than to continue too long. 



The question of feeding the mare while with foal is one 

 of the first importance. Here, emphatically, does the axiom 

 apply that " like produces like." The soil must be rich, 

 proper supplies of nutrition must be afforded the growing 

 crop, and judicious care and cultivation must be bestowed, 

 or a bountiful harvest can not be expected. ' The mare must 

 receive the feed and attention which her condition demands, 

 oi; it IS unreasonable to look for a fine colt. We make or 

 mar the latter by the treatment extended the mother. Many 

 a fine mare, bred to a horse equally good, has produced but 

 an inferior offspring, owing to bad management during the 

 period of gestation ; and, on the other hadd, many a common 



