CHOICE OF STALLIONS AND MARES. 31 



as it too often is, rendering the breeding of tho- 

 rough-bred stock a mere matter of chance. Should 

 she have appeared in public, her racing capabilities 

 are to be consulted. For example, if pace (speed) 

 was her best, as the jockies say, a stallion should 

 be selected, who, by the known stoutness of his 

 running, is likely to tie her produce to pace, or, in 

 other words, to give them both speed and endur- 

 ance in a race. Her frame should be roomy, or 

 her produce will be apt to be small, although, it 

 must be admitted, there are exceptions to this rule. 

 She should be of, what is termed, fashionable blood, 

 for, if she be not, and her produce should come to 

 the hammer, previous to trial, they would prove 

 utterly worthless in the market. 



It cannot admit of a doubt, that it is trespassing 

 on the powers of nature to expect a mare, or any 

 other female animal, to nourish her foetus, in em- 

 bryo, so perfectly during the time she is giving 

 suck, as if she were dry or without milk. Never- 

 theless, it is customary to put all blood mares to 

 the horse the ninth day after foaling, and it is 

 almost too much to expect that the owners will let 

 them lie fallow, although they may in some mea- 

 sure resemble the man who cut up his goose to get 

 at the golden egg. During the period of gestation, 

 however, the thorough-bred mare should be highl}'- 

 kept. All animals well fed, produce their species 

 of a superior description to those which are not 

 well fed ; and nothing more forcibly shows the 

 beneficial effect of warmth in rearing superior va- 

 rieties of the horse, than that the half-starved 



