THE MARE. 109 



intended. To be particular requires first, intention as to 

 purpose for which intended. If heavy draft horses, evenly- 

 trotting roadsters, or ponies are required, select both dam 

 and sire with special reference to the kind of stock wanted. 

 If the mare is light boned or defective, select a heavier 

 boned horse, one that possesses the contrast of greater 

 strength or better points in that respect. But to ensure 

 much certainty of what you would have, the mare and 

 horse should be as nearly the type desired as possible, 

 though not related. I would be very particular about dis- 

 position and intelligence. The head should be broad 

 between the eyes, muzzle small, short or middling short 

 from eyes to ears. The smaller and rounder the eyes, the 

 more positive will be the temper. (See cuts.) To have a 

 horse sensitive, intelligent, courageous, and naturally docile, 

 there must be large brain, the eye must be large, standing 

 well out, and mild in expression. 



Of course it is understood that bad treatment will 



SPOIL THE BEST TEMPERED HORSES, AND GOOD TREATMENT 

 WILL MAKE GOOD SAFE ANIMALS OF THE WORST. 



THE MARE. 



The mare is said to go with foal eleven months or three 

 hundred days; but it is not uncommon for mares to have 

 fully developed foals in much less time, and in many 

 instances mares have been known to go four or five weeks 

 beyond this time. Time should be so arranged in putting 

 mares, that the colts will come at a time when there is some 

 grass, as the mare will do better not to be confined to dry 

 feed. The virgin mare, or one that has not had a colt, for 

 one season, must be put when she is found in season. The 

 mare that has had a colt will be found in season, and should 

 be put on the eighth or ninth day after foaling; some prefer 

 the eighth, others the eleventh. Good judges claim that it 

 is dangerous to go beyond the tenth, as the mare is apt to 

 come off her heat soon after, and if allowed to go to a later 

 period, the sucking of the colt is likely to reduce the mare 

 too much to allow conception to take place, and thus a 

 year's service of the breeder is lost. 



After putting a mare, the days for trial are the ninth after 

 service, the seventh after this, the fifth after this again. 



