ON BREEDING. 87 



are absent ; and thus not only is the dam rendered inefficient 

 sooner than in one that is allowed to come to maturity, but 

 the foal can never be expected to be either healthy or strong 

 in constitution. The period of going with foal is eleven 

 months: after the sixth month, great care and gentleness 

 should be exercised towards them ; moderate exercise is 

 essential ; hard work in harness, over bad roads, is likely to 

 produce abortion ; and mares that have once aborted are very 

 liable (if the same causes are in operation) to a recurrence 

 of the same. (See Abortion, part second.) 



The proper time for copulation is when there is a discharge 

 of a whitish fluid from the vagina. She neighs frequently, 

 and exhibits great desire for the horse : when she has con- 

 ceived, she shows no further desire, and the discharge from 

 the vagina stops. 



Some writers recommend the mare to be put to the stal- 

 lion early after foaling : this is improper, for the simple reason 

 that the dam has to nourish two, viz., the foal and the em- 

 bryo : this is excessively weakening, and liable to injure one 

 or the other. 



Disproportionate copulations are also bad, as a large horse 

 and small mare : the size of the horse should be produced by 

 gentle gradations, and this is evidently a better way to arrive 

 at beauty as well as strength. 



The best mode of preserving the breed and making im- 

 provements, is to make selections of the best on both sides. 

 Much judgment and circumspection is necessary at all times 

 in crossing the breed ; and many errors arise in consequence 

 of a want of knowledge in the breeders. 



When the period of foaling draws nigh, the mare should 

 be separated from other horses. Having foaled, turn her into 

 a fine pasture, where there is a barn. The foal may be 

 weaned at six months. If the foal dies, or is taken away 

 from the dam, humanity would suggest the propriety of a few 

 weeks' rest, to enable the animal to recover from the effects of 

 parturition. 



