122 MULES AND MULE BREEDING. 



built for breeding. First, she should be sound and of good 

 colour ; black, bay, brown, or chestnut is preferred. Her good 

 colour is needed to help to give the foals proper colour, and this 

 is a matter of no small importance. 



*' This should not be understood as ignoring the other colours, 

 for some of the best mules ever seen were the produce of grey 

 or light- coloured mares, as many dealers and breeders will attest. 

 The mare should be well bred ; that is, she would give better 

 results by having some good crosses. By all means let her have 

 a cross of thoroughbred, say one-quarter, supplemented with 

 strong crosses of some of the larger breeds, and the balance of 

 the breeding may be made up of the better class of the native 

 stock. The mare should have good length, large, well-rounded 

 barrel, good head, long neck, good, broad, flat bone, broad chest,, 

 wide between the hips, and good style. 



" HOW TO BREED THE MULE. 



" Having selected the sire and the dam, the next thing is to 

 produce the colt. The sire, if well kept and in good condition,, 

 is ready for business, but not so with the mare. The dam is to- 

 be in season ; that is, in heat. Before being bred, to prevent 

 accidents, the mare should be hobbled or pitted. Having taken 

 this precaution, the jack may be brought out, and both will be 

 ready for service. Care should be taken not to overserve the 

 jack, as he should not be allowed to serve over two mares a day^ 



" The mare, after being served, may be put to light work, or 

 put upon some quiet pasture by herself for several days until 

 she passes out of season, when she may be turned out with other 

 stock to run until the eighteenth day, when she should be taken 

 up to be teased by a horse, to ascertain if she be in season, and 

 if so, she should be bred again. Some breeders think the ninths 

 some the twelfth, and some the fifteenth day after service is the 

 proper day to tease, but observation has taught us that the best 

 results come from the eighteenth -day plan. After she becomes 

 impregnated she should have good treatment ; light work will 

 not hurt her, but care should be taken not to overexert. She 

 should have good, nutritious grass if she runs out and is not 



