BREEDING, AMD THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SAME 303 



foal. It is a great error to suppose that a mare that has once 

 heen good, and capable of great exertion, should, when old, and 

 no longer fitted for work, produce offspring equally efficient as 

 when in her prime. The foal will certainly inherit some of the 

 weakness of the present nature and broken-down constitution. 

 Mares should never be put to the stallion until they have arrived 

 at maturity, which takes place about the fifth year. Mares are 

 bred from earlier, but it is a bad practice, for strength and beauty 

 are absent; and thus not only is the dam rendered inefficient 

 sooner than in one that is allowed to come to maturity, but the 

 foal can never be expected to be either healthy or strong in con- 

 stitution. The period of going with foal is eleven months. After 

 the sixth month, great care and gentleness should be exercised to- 

 ward them. Moderate exercise is essential. Hard work in har- 

 ness, over bad roads, is likely to produce abortion, and mares thai 

 have once aborted are very liable (if the same causes are in ope- 

 ration) to a recurrence of the same. 



The proper time for copulation is when there is a discharge of 

 a whitish fluid from the vagina. She neighs frequently, and ex- 

 hibits great desire for the horse. When she has conceived she 

 shows no further desire, and the discharge from the vagina stops. 

 Some writers recommend that the mare be put to the stallion early 

 after foaling. This is bad policy, for the simple reason that the 

 dam, if she become impregnated, has to nourish both the foal and 

 the embryo. This is excessively weakening, and tells on either 

 dam, foetus, or foal. 



Disproportionate copulations are also objectionable, as, for ex- 

 ample, putting a large horse to a small mare. When improve- 

 ment in size is the object, it should be attempted by regulai 

 gradations. This is the best method of securing size and beauty, 

 as well as strength. The best mode of preserving the breed and 

 making improvements is, to make selections of the best on both 

 sides. Much judgment and circumspection is necessary, at all 

 times, in crossing the breed, and many errors arise in consequence 

 of a want of knowledge on this subject. 



When the period of foaling draws nigh, the mare should be 

 separated from her companions. Having foaled, she should be 

 turned into a pasture, if possible ; otherwise, into a loose box 

 inclosure, or empty barn. The foal may be weaned at the age 

 of six months, more or less, as circumstances seem to require. A 



