120 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



not be served again under eighteen days. As 

 a rule it is best to try the mare again within 

 from two weeks to eighteen days after service, 

 and then if she refuses the horse she should be 

 tried every week for some four weeks; and if 

 she fails to come in within that time it will be 

 reasonably certain that she is in foal. She 

 ought 'to be closely watched, however, for some 

 weeks afterward, because in some cases mares 

 will pass over a period of one or two months, 

 or even longer, without any appearance of heat, 

 and yet not be pregnant. Again, there are 

 other mares and they are more numerous 

 than one would suppose that will appear to 

 be in heat and will freely receive the horse 

 when they are in foal, and even almost up to 

 the time of foaling. 



For convenience in trying mares it is best to 

 erect the barrier parallel to and about four feet 

 distant from a solid fence or wall, so that the 

 mare will be compelled when behind it to stand 

 with her left side toward the horse: and the 

 barrier should be so substantially built that it 

 cannot be kicked or pushed down. In many 

 cases the only barrier used is a strong pole 

 fixed about three and a half feet from the 

 ground; but it is much safer and better to build 

 up the space to that height close and solid, with 

 strong material of some kind, so as to lessen 

 the danger from kicking and striking. This 



