CHAP. I.] BROOD MARES ; CLIMATE. 63 



recent exhaustion. Aged stallions produce hard- 

 mouthed foals, and further proclaim the ill-adapted 

 ages of sire and dam by extraordinary hollowness 

 over the eyes. 



Much depends on the country, the climate, or 

 kind of land, in which the gestation or breeding 

 may be carried on ; and it may be presumed, that 

 no one in his senses would choose such a situation 

 as is known to be disadvantageous to the particular 

 kind of breeding he may have in contemplation to 

 pursue : whilst those who may already be so placed, 

 have no right to complain when they engage in a 

 branch of business thus ill adapted to their plan of 

 farming, and they get disappointed. As both ob- 

 jections lie at the option of the parties concerned, 

 they require no farther remark ; but another point 

 of consideration well worthy our careful attention 

 is, the treatment the mare ought to experience at 

 our hands while she is breeding ; this being a mat- 

 ter of some moment, and within every one's control, 

 should not be neglected. Though a brood mare 

 in foal requires no pampering at any period, yet 

 is it clear that, from the third or fourth month, she 

 should not be worked so hard as usual, and from 

 this period to the day of her foaling, the duty to be 

 required of her should be less and less every week. 

 Nor, on the other hand, is complete idleness be- 

 fitting her situation : in cases where she has not 

 been used to hard labour, a run at grass, in a pad- 

 dock, with access to an out-house or stable, as it 

 leaves to her option the quantity of exercise her 



