STALLIONS, BROOD MARES AND FOALS. 123 



the young stallion that is to serve but a few 

 mares I should prefer that these should all be 

 served within the space of a few weeks say 

 two or three a week until his limit for the sea- 

 son has been reached and then let him be 

 withdrawn entirely from the breeding stud. 

 He will soon forget all about it will cease to 

 fret after mares, and will have nothing to do 

 but to groiv until the next season. But when 

 it comes to doing business with the stallion he 

 should rarely be permitted to serve more than 

 twice a day; and even this should not be kept 

 up for any great length of time. One a day 

 during the season is better; but the groom can- 

 not always do as his judgment (Dictates in this 

 matter. If the horse has had a period of com- 

 parative abstinence he may, if convenience de- 

 mands it, serve three times in one day for a few 

 days in succession; but this should not be kept 

 up long, and a season of comparative rest for 

 recuperation should follow this extraordinary 

 demand. In the great breeding studs of Ger- 

 many, under government direction, it was long 

 held that from fifteen to twenty mares was 

 enough for a stallion during the season; but 

 the number has gradually been increased with- 

 out perceptible detriment, until now the num- 

 ber frequently exceeds one hundred. 



The number of mares that a horse serves 

 during a season appears to have but little effect 



