CAKE OF THE MAKE. 541 



after service, the seventh after this, the fifth after this 

 again. Some commence again, commencing with the ninth 

 day, and follow up as before, making forty-two days. 

 Twenty-one days being the period elapsing between a 

 mare's going out of heat, and coming in again, making her 

 periodical term thirty days. Twenty-one days is claimed 

 to be sufficient to prove a mare. 



Reference is made elsewhere in this work to the 

 importance of protecting the breeding mare from excite- 

 ment, abuse, etc. Especial care should be exercised in this 

 matter, as fright, exposure to bad weather, improper feed- 

 ing, or any influence that would seriously disturb the 

 normal condition of the nervous system, will have its 

 certain effect upon the colt, often to the great loss of the 

 owner. 



The mare and colt should be well fed, and protected 

 from storms. The theory of working a mare hard, and half 

 starving the colt, is the poorest kind of economy, since the 

 mare needs generous feed and rest, to renew her strength 

 and make her milk, by which of course the colt is nourished 

 and made to grow. When size and strength will indicate 

 that it is time to wean, which is usually in five or six 

 months, put the colt in a quiet pasture, away from the 

 mare, where it should be closely looked after. A little 

 oats (better if bruised) should be given daily. 



The conclusion of careful breeders is, that it is much 

 better for a colt to run in pasture, than to be confined in a 

 stable. If the colt is intended for farm use, castration may 

 be performed when six months old; if, however, the 

 withers are light, it should be postponed until the head and 

 neck fill up to the degree required, and this may require 

 from one to two years, or even more. If the head is large 

 and heavy, early castration is advisable. Colts should be 

 generously fed, and protected from the inclemency of the 



