Covering Time. 99 



practise what is called "opening" the mares, i.e., intro- 

 ducing the arm into the vagina, and feeling if the "os uteri' ' 

 or neck of the womb is open. By using the speculum one 

 does not have to depend on feeling, one can see, not only 

 whether the os is dilated, but also if there is any inflamma- 

 tion of the membranes, gleet, bruises or ulcerations. The 

 intelligent use of the speculum is a great conserver of the 

 vitality of the stallion. In the case of many mares, the 

 preliminary use of the speculum will disclose a condition 

 of the generative organs which renders the service of the 

 stallion useless. And not only that; the examination may 

 show that the service will be calculated to aggravate 

 the mare's ailment, and possibly result in the infec- 

 tion of other mares on the horse's "list." I would, 

 therefore, strongly advise that when a mare has 

 been found well " in season '' that the speculum 

 should always be used before deciding whether to put the 

 horse on her or not. In many cases missing a " pride " may, 

 from the point of view of ultimately getting the mare in 

 foal, prove a saving instead of a loss of time. It is of little 

 use taking special pains to have your stallion in the pink of 

 covering condition and then being careless as to the state of 

 health of the mares to be put to him. 



Every cover made by the stallion makes a demand on his 

 vitality ; repeated demands on that vitality lower it, and it 

 is only common sense to suppose that the state of health at 

 the time of service will be faithfully reflected in the progeny 

 resulting from such service. The stud groom, therefore, 

 should make it his especial care to see that his stallion's 

 powers should not be wantonly wasted. I am not suggesting 

 that a lavish use of the stallion (unless carried to reckless 

 lengths) will necessarily curtail the number of his crop of 

 foals. The quantity may not suffer, but the quality 



