Stallion Management. 91 



concert pitch his food must be of the best, and liberal in 

 quantity; but, the season ended, the ration should be cut 

 down by two-thirds. The actual amount of corn allowed will 

 vary according to the age and vigour of the individual 

 stallion, to the numBer of mares to be put to him, and 

 whether he puts on fat quickly, or is a shy or a gross feeder. 

 During the covering season a generous ration should be 

 allowed to support the demands made on his vitality, while 

 in the " off " season just sufficient to keep him fresh and 

 well is all that is necessary. Regarding food and exercise, 

 the latter is by far the most important factor in keeping the 

 stallion in tip-top breeding condition, for whereas the evil 

 results of over-feeding might be counteracted by vigorous 

 exercise, the combination of over-feeding and idleness would 

 quickly lead to disaster. 



Some of the results of insufficient exercise are the stable 

 vices of crib-biting, weaving, self abuse, and kicking and 

 biting; while out of doors the antics of a mad fresh horse 

 are a source of danger to himself, his groom, and passing 

 traffic. As to the best method of giving exercise to stallions, 

 there is no doubt that having them ridden is by far the best 

 if it can be done with safety. But the fact is, that with 

 most horses the first covering of a mare puts a brand new 

 set of ideas into their heads, converting what was a pleasant 

 hack into a rare handful. Any man has better control over a 

 fractious horse on foot than when mounted ; at any rate, the 

 chances of a man keeping his feet are greater than those of 

 his retaining his seat in a saddle. Again, there is less risk 

 of a rearing stallion losing his balance and falling backwards 

 when led, than there is with a man on his back hanging on 

 to the reins. Good stallion men are not all good riders. The 

 great advantage of riding the stallion at exercise consists in 

 the greater amount of health-giving work he does in a given 



