554 The Book of the Horse. 



There is a method of economising the cost of breeding riding and high-class harness 

 horses whicli is not sufficiently practised, perhaps because in the days when young horses 

 were almost a drug in the hands of the breeders, dealers would not look at a mare that 

 had had a foal, or, as they call her, a widow. The prejudice still prevails in some quarters, but 

 on the other hand one of the greatest dealers in London confirmed my own opinion that a 

 filly's appearance is improved by having a foal. 



Let the owner of a filly of the make suitable for breeding from put her to the horse at 

 three years old. Let her be previously " broken, made quiet to ride on the road, and taught 

 to jump any kind of fence by being led over them with a long rein, without a rider on her 

 back," or, as the case may be, broken to double harness, she will, at four years old, have 

 produced a foal which may be weaned the October of the year of foaling ; the dam will then 

 be ready to go into work. Thus, the cost of idle brood mares, which has ruined every joint- 

 stock horse-breeding company, will be saved. The process may be repeated with every filly 

 bred. Foals will thus be obtained from fresh mares not injured by the effects of hard work. 



Mr. Nevile, who makes the suggestion in his book, says : " I have ridden marcs so bred for 

 hunting, and never could trace any disadvantage from it." And I can myself confirm Mr. 

 Nevile's evidence, having been well carried with the Devon and Somerset Stag-hounds by 

 two mares that had been bred from as fillies. Mares that have had a foal are and look 

 bigger in their middle piece, which is no real disadvantage. Of course the appearance of 

 the teats tells the tale of the mare's early use. But times are very much changed since 

 the man who bought a merely useful grey mare at Tattersall's had to make up his mind to keep 

 her for life or give her away. 



In rearing a first-class hunter the same quantity of corn as for a race-horse must be allowed 

 during the first twelve months, if you desire to obtain bone and size. This is exemplified in 

 breeding poultry. The modern gigantic prize Dorkings, which are twice the weight of ordinary 

 barn-door Dorkings, are produced by feeding the chickens on the most nourishing food every 

 hour of the day for the first three months. But ordinary foals may be well kept on pastures 

 with grass chaff, pressed roots, and very little corn, until they are taken up for breaking. 



"February is the best time to put the mare to the horse. If in hard condition she should 

 have a dose of physic and cooling diet, and then if she shows no signs of being stinted, a few 

 quarts of blood may be taken. But it is a much better plan to reduce the mare to a soft 

 condition by degrees, with soft food and slow light work at drilling or harrowing, if she is not 

 turned out to grass. She should on no account be alloioed to sec the horse again under three 

 weeks. Many mares are rendered barren from allowing them to see the stallion frequently, to 

 ascertain whether they are really stinted." 



The food should be cooling, especially if the mare is in hard galloping condition (plenty 

 of roots, with bran and linseed mashes). From this point the sooner the mare is put to grass the 

 better. Of all things it is desirable to avoid cooping mares up in sheds and yards in the day- 

 time. E.xcrcise is always necessary for the proper working of digestion. Nothing renders 

 animals so liable to mange, dropsy, water farcy, worms, &c., as want of sufficient space for 

 exercise ; the secretions of the whole system become morbid. 



If any symptoms of the kind become apparent, rub the body with a mixture of sulphur 

 and oil of turpentine, and give internally linseed gruel with half a drachm of iodide of 

 potassium daily. Continue this for a week. Do not put more than six mares together in one 

 field of at least ten acres. 



The marc cannot be left too much to herself when foaling ; taking care that no dangerous 



