78 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE 



animals is the one that is most uniform, not only in the kind of 

 characters of the animals included, but in their degree as well. 



The horse breeder, to be successful, should select a sire better 

 than his mares, of larger size, compacter build, finer finish, superior 

 action, and as prepotent as possible. 



In regard to the season of the year, spring is the natural breeding 

 season, and the natural instincts of the mares to breed in spring and 

 summer are very firmly fixed. It often happens that the mare can 

 be spared from work at other times more easily, and when this is 

 the case the greater advantages will warrant an effort in that direc- 

 tion. Mares may be successfully bred to foal in late summer or 

 early fall, or in late winter or very early spring, so that their use on 

 farms for spring and summer work is not seriously interfered with. 



The Brood Mare Needs Exercise and Liberal Feeding 



The exercise should be in kind adapted to her capacity ; draft 

 work for draft mares, carriage work for lighter mares ; and farm 

 work can be found suitable to almost any kind of a brood mare. 

 The amount of work a pregnant mare can safely perform is the 

 same during the first six or seven months of pregnancy as with a 

 mare not with foal. As the time for parturition approaches and 

 she grows heavier, the pace will be gradually slackened and the 

 working hours shortened. She may perform work at a moderate 

 pace up to two or three days before foaling without prejudice to 

 the foal or herself. Indeed, she will be stronger and parturition 

 easier because of the regular work performed. Very fast or heavy 

 work, heating unduly, heavy backing, sharp turning, &c., are to be 

 avoided by mares near to parturition, after the seventh or eighth 

 month. FOR PARTURITION a loose box or paddock should 

 be provided and the mare left to herself for the most part, the 

 groom merely informing himself whether she is doing well or other- 

 wise, and giving assistance only when needed, which is very rare. 



If you want strong, healthy colts, use strong, healthy horses for breeding. 



