122 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



not serving any mares at all, that a three-year- 

 old should be limited to fifteen or twenty ser- 

 vices, and that a four-year-old should not go 

 beyond twenty or thirty. There can be no 

 question that the use of the procreative powers 

 by the miniatured horse tends to retard his 

 physical development, and as a general rule it 

 may be stated that there is no horse but would 

 be the better for absolute continence until he 

 is fully matured. 



But while this position is unquestionably 

 based upon sound physiological law, and the 

 true theory of perfect physical development in 

 the male, there are advantages attending the 

 earlier use of the stallion to a moderate extent 

 that perhaps more than compensate for all the 

 damage that may result from it. It is very de- 

 sirable at the earliest possible stage in the life 

 of a stallion to ascertain what his qualities as a 

 foal-getter are likely to be, and with this object 

 mainly in view I consider it wise to let the 

 two-year-old serve a few choice mares, merely 

 enough to show the character of his get. I 

 should, with the same object in view, permit 

 him as a three-year-old to serve a rather larger 

 number, which may thereafter be, increased 

 with each succeeding year until he is fully ma- 

 tured, when if properly taken care of with refer- 

 ence to food and exercise one hundred mares 

 may be safely served during the season. With 



