82 HOW TO BREED A HORSE. 



in a small inclosure, in which she may trot indeed, and 

 even canter, or gallop at half speed, but in which she can- 

 not well get to her racing speed, or she will be likely to 

 overdo herself, besides running the chance of getting falls 

 and other accidents, which may produce consequences the 

 most disastrous. Such enclosures should be divided by 

 fences sufficiently high and solid that they shall not present 

 to the animals the idea of being easily surmounted or 

 broken through, — for if they seem to be so, even if they be 

 not so in realit}^, the mares will be constantly trying to 

 leap them, or force their way through them, and bad, per- 

 haps fatal, accidents will be occurring. It is a far better 

 plan to have the fences made, at least at the upper pai't, of 

 open work, so that the animals in two adjacent lots may 

 be able to see one another and communicate, without being 

 able to get at each other, — as when so situated they will be 

 constantly gently trotting to and fro in order to find a meth- 

 od of getting together, which will keep them in proper exer- 

 cise, — than to confine two or more mares in the same lot or 

 enclosure, as in that case they will be apt, in play and 

 rivalry, to extend themselves too much in their speed, and 

 over-exert themselves. An acre is ample space for such an 

 enclosure, and it should be provided with a good comfoi t- 

 able hut or porch for shade in summer and warmth in 

 winter, the doorway of which ought not to be less than 

 five feet in width and eight in height, with the angles of 

 the door-posts and lintels rounded off* in order to prevent 

 the hips from being injured as the animal passes rapidly and 

 impetuously^ in and out, or from the poll, being injured by 

 the throwing up the head suddenly and striking the sharp 

 edge of the lintel. 



The food of the mare during her gestation should be 

 liberal, generous and nutritious, without heating ; for it is 

 to be remembered that during this time the female has to 



