THE HORSE. 17 



SECTION III.— Breeding. 



The ceremony of introduction of the horse to the 

 mare is well known, in all its particular tactics, by 

 our stable, particularly our country people. In the 

 stud it is usual, previously, to try young or uncertain 

 mares with an ordinary stallion, styled a teaser, that 

 the superior may not be fatigued, or have his vigour 

 exhausted. Mares known to be quiet and thoroughly 

 ready, are offered to the horses with their legs at 

 liberty, and only held by the head; otherwise they 

 are hoppled, or their legs tackled. Such is perhaps 

 universally held a sufficient precaution; but it has 

 not always proved so ; and fatal accidents have occa- 

 sionally occurred, from headstrong and determined 

 mares plunging violently, and getting their hinder 

 legs at liberty, or throwing themselves down. Stal- 

 lions, at different periods, have been killed outright, 

 in this way, from kicks on the testes, or having their 

 legs broken. To couple accidents together, though 

 arising from different causes, a racing stallion was 

 lost, some years since, by being put, with a full 

 stomach, to a mare. The violence of the action 

 caused a rupture of the intestines. Many years past, 

 and immediately after a fatal accident which came to 

 his knowledge, the present writer recommended the 

 security of leathern straps, attached to posts fixed in 

 the ground, in which straps the legs and fetlocks of 

 the mare might be confined all fours ; a railing to be 

 placed on each side, as with the leaping-bar. To 

 those who slight a precaution of this kind, the author 

 begs leave to propose a question : — how would they 



