STALLIONS, BROOD MARES AND FOALS. 1 1 9 



"in heat" on the ninth day after foaling if she 

 is healthy and has received no injury in giving 

 birth to her foal ; and most horse-breeders think 

 it is best that she should receive the horse at 

 that time if it is desired that she should be kept 

 for breeding purposes. I can remember when 

 it was the almost universal custom to try mares 

 every week after they had been served, but that 

 is not the present practice of experienced horse- 

 men. The rule that now recei ves the most gen- 

 eral sanction is not to try the mare again after 

 service before the lapse of two weeks. I have 

 taken a great deal of pains during the past few 

 years to ascertain the views of prominent, in- 

 telligent and experienced breeders upon this 

 point, and I find them, with very great unanim- 

 ity, agreeing that after the ninth day from foal- 

 ing there is no regular period for the return of 

 heat (although some breeders think the twenty- 

 seventh day is almost as certain a period as the 

 ninth, and better for many reasons, while still 

 others prefer the eighteenth day), neither is the 

 period uniform in duration. Some mares will 

 appear to be in heat nearly all the time, while 

 with others it recurs but rarely and lasts but a 

 very short time; consequently if the mare, 

 after service, goes out of heat within a few 

 clays she should be served when she comes in 

 again, even if that should be within nine days; 

 but should the period not pass off she should 



