5y 



ts in a proper place, for a mare casts her foal 

 standing. Let her keeper be present at the time 

 of her foaling, and if the colt comes butt end 

 first, let the hand be introduced into the body, 

 and push the colt back, that he may come head 

 fu'st. And let her keeper as soon as she has 

 hckcd her colt, milk her clean before the colt 

 sucks, and stroke her several times ; this will 

 make her fruitful in giving milk, and prevent its 

 curdling in her bag, so that she will not dry up. 

 Some upon their mare's conceiving, have pared 

 their hoofs very thin, and put on the hunters irons. 

 Moreover, if you are desirous to have your 

 mare have a horse colt rather than a filly ; ob- 

 serve then this lesson I shall here give you, and 

 you will find it an infallible rule, and which shall 

 never fail, viz.: At the time you would have 

 your mare covered, let it be done when one of 

 the five masculine signs do reign ; which means 

 v,^hen the sign is in the head, neck, arms, breast, 

 or heart. But if she should be covered when 

 any of the feminine or watery signs predom- 

 inate ; which means when the sign is in the 

 belly, reins, secrets, thighs, knees, legs, or 

 feet, then be you confident it will be a filly ; 

 for this I have often tried, and found it nev- 

 er to fail me, especially if the wind be west or 

 north, (but west is the best) at the time of her 

 covering, and you will find this, my rule, to be 

 infallible, for experience hath taught me. After 

 she has been thus covered,you shall know wheth- 

 er she hath conceived or cast her seed, by many 

 evident symptoms which wilfappear to your eye ; 

 for if she contaiiieth a good stomach for her 

 meats, and so continueth— if she do not neigh at 

 sight or hearing of other horses ; if she do not piss 

 €fften m the course of the dajf ; casting not her eye 



