316 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. 



she comes in, no matter what day ; but if they do not 

 " show," as I have said, try them especially on their 

 trial days. After the fourth trial day, if the mare fails 

 to "show," we conclude that she is all right. Still, 

 with all these precautions, I have known them to come 

 into use again, say ninety days later. 



We carefully watch mares about due to foal, and 

 have at the farm twent3^-five large foaling stalls. As 

 soon, of course, as the youngsters are able to move 

 around, we take them out to make room for other 

 mares "in an interesting condition." The day after 

 the colt is foaled we turn him out a little while in the 

 sun with his dam. The mare should be fed such food 

 as will keep her bowels free, and the colt's bowels must 

 also be got working. You may have to give him a 

 warm water injection before he is an hour old. 



I would not at first put more than three or four 

 mares with foals in the same paddock. At first the 

 mares are nervous, and will fight off anything that 

 comes near ; after the colts get older, of course, more 

 can be put together. 



Here we can leave the youngster, for you will remem- 

 ber that it was at this point that I took him up in my 

 first chapter on training. 



I do not believe in breeding mares under four years 

 old ; I think it stunts the mare's growth, and the colt 

 is not so apt to be good. I think that while the mare 

 is growing she needs all her strength, and cannot, with- 

 out injury, give nourishment to the colt. 



For a two-year-old stallion I think three or four 

 mares are really beneficial. I would not give him 

 more than six, and they should be well distr'^uted over 

 the season. 



