182 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



Dr. Reynolds' remarks upon brood mares lead 

 me to speak of the effects of pasture upon mares 

 at the time of service. It is the general opinion 

 of those who have given close attention to this 

 subject that mares, when first turned to grass, 

 after having been kept stabled and on dry feed 

 for a considerable period, are not so likely to 

 get in foal as those that have been on grass for 

 some time previous to service by the stallion; 

 ,or as those that are not on grass at all. The 

 theory is that turning mares to grass produces, 

 for a time, a sort of general muscular relaxa- 

 tion, or softening, that is not favorable to con- 

 ception. I have always advised that mares 

 which had been kept stabled previous to being 

 sent to the stallion should be kept on dry food 

 for at least four weeks after the service. On 

 the other hand, I have thought it best, when 

 mares that had been kept on grass for a consid- 

 erable previous period were sent for service, 

 that they should be so kept for some time after- 

 ward. At such times I would avoid any ma- 

 terial change in the food or treatment. If the 

 mare has been kept on grass let her so remain 

 for at least a month; if she has been kept 

 stabled and in idleness let her remain so for a 

 few weeks; if she has been worked continue to 

 work her moderately. Of course these direc- 

 tions apply to such mares only as have not 

 proven hitherto barren. In case a mare has 



