58 HORSE SENSE. 



a highly carbonaceous character, but sufficient to keep the mare in fair 

 condition, yet by no means fat. Fat is at all times a detriment to vital 

 actions. The food should be generous but should not be given to the 

 degree of gormandizing. Only moderate rations at the proper times 

 should be indulged in. Foods of bone forming constituents can be used 

 liberally to advantage; such as bran, oilmeal in small quantities, and oats 

 with corn and cornfodder, but always in connection with plenty of ex- 

 ercise. Brood-mares should be turned out for exercise every day. Large 

 quantities of innutritious food, such as straw and poor hay, is a detri- 

 ment to brood-mares heavy in foal. 



BEST TIME TO BREED. 

 Nature almost always indicates the proper time to commence breed- 

 ing. Frequently, if the weather in this north latitude is warm in March 

 or April, mares are very sure to come in heat; but our experience is that 

 where one mare gets in foal, three or four will fail when bred before the 

 middle of May or June. However, where you are supplied with your 

 own stallion, the breeding might be commenced at any time and con- 

 tinued indefinitely, if very early colts are desired in the spring or late 

 in the fall or even winter. But the chances are so much against the 

 practice, that it will not be successful in the long run to make it a busi- 

 ness with public sires. People generally, who have not had much ex- 

 perience, are too apt to lay the failure at the door of the stallion, when 

 the condition of the mare is far more at fault than the stallion. 



PECULIAR NOTIONS ABOUT WHEN TO BREED. 



There are a great many peculiar notions about the particular stage 

 of the heat to breed; and especially in relation to the sex of the antici- 

 pated offspring. We have made many observations in this relation, and 

 "have come to this conclusion: that the very best time to breed is when 

 the mare is at the height of the heat. And if at that time, the stallion 

 is in the height of vigor and the mare is somewhat debilitated or fatigued, 

 the prospects are more favorable for colts than fillies, and vice versa. 

 Still, you must not construe the manifestation of vigor to a sprightly 

 action alone. The one recovering the most rapidly from fatigue, has the 

 advantage in controlling the sex. Stallions kept at active exercise, but 

 not to the point of fatigue will get a majority of horse colts; and those 

 given but a limited amount of exercise are generally apt to get more fil- 

 lies than colts, if the mares are strong and vigorous. But there are so 

 many varying conditions that even this cannot be relied upon. 



CONDITION OF THE MARE WHEN BRED. 



Probably the most important consideration at the breeding time, is 

 to know that your mares are in a healthy state, in relation to their gen- 

 erative organs. 



Mares that have worked hard and been exposed to inclement weather 

 through the winter, are often troubled with leucorrhea or whites, known 

 hy a copious discharge from the parts; frequently taken for the height 

 ■of the heat. This is a tenacious mucous that will act as a hindrance 



