32 BREEDING. 



mare generally goes with foal eleven months and as 

 many days as she is years old. A colt foaled in April, 

 when three years old would have to carry no more 

 weight in a race field than one foaled in August ; which 

 would give to the one first foaled a difference of three 

 months of age, and of equal blood and under similar 

 advantages. The one first foaled ought very certainly 

 to prove best on the turf, from three to seven years old. 



After your mare has been put to the horse of your 

 choice, she should not be confined during her preg- 

 nancy, but a house or shed about twelve feet square, 

 should be built for the purpose of sheltering her from 

 the rain or bad weather ; the south side of this house 

 should be left entirely open, so that the mare might 

 come in or go out at pleasure : and a manger and rack 

 should be confined in it for the purpose of feeding. A 

 good bed of straw, and that frequently changed, will 

 add much to her comfort, and she will be induced to 

 sleep under the shelter if the litter is kept clean. — 

 Adjoining this house there should be a lot, enclosed 

 with post and railing, containing from one to four 

 acres of ground, clear of snags, grubs, and stumps ; in 

 which the mare should be confined about two or three 

 weeks previous to her foaling : she will then be con- 

 venient to assistance, should any be necessary. 



Mares frequently produce colts at fourteen or fifteen 

 years of age, and sometimes twenty ; but from five to 

 twelve years of age, from experiments made, appears 

 to be the most valuable part of a mare's life for raising 

 colts. Experience has also proved the great advan- 

 tage resulting to the form and size of a colt, from 

 letting him get thin upon grass alone, two or three 

 limes previous to his being three years old ; after which 

 lime he may be constantly pushed as much as possible. 



When the dam and sire of a colt are small, it is to 



