38 The Practical Stud Groom. 



hounds in full cry, a band playing, are common sources of 

 stampedes and subsequent trouble. It is a good plan, where 

 a large number of mares are kept, to divide the mares early 

 in the Autumn into convenient sized groups, according to 

 their expected dates of foaling. Thus the January and 

 February mares would make one batch, March and April 

 mares another, and so on. The full benefit of this arrange- 

 ment will be reaped after the mares have foaled, and they 

 and their young are turned out in parties in the paddocks, 

 for, if the mares have been running together, there will be- 

 little risk of quarrels and injured foals. When, under this 

 system, it happens that all the mares save one of a particular 

 batch have foaled, and she refuses to settle down by herself 

 in her paddock, but gallops about fretting and calling for 

 her last companion, it is safer to have her kept up and led 

 out daily for exercise, than to put her with another batch of 

 mares. They are certain to resent her intrusion, and she is 

 likely to receive, or inflict, injury. 



