THE HORSE, BREEDING AND RAISING. 103 



are close observers and astute judges of horse flesh, and an intelhgent 

 son of the Desert could by no reasonable means be induced to breed his 

 mare to a stallion m which his eye had marked some weakness or evil 

 tendency which he knew the mare likewise to possess, however slight the 

 indications might ])e in either. 



Then, to recapitulate briefly ; if the breeder has it in his power to keep 

 up a certain stock, let him guard against the slightest admixture of heathen 

 blood ; and to be as sure as possible of no evil results, let him look to se- 

 curing sires and dams as ^videly removed from kinship as possible ; but ho 

 can never afford to disregard the point previously so much insisted upon, 

 as a principle to be observed in crossing, that if either parent has a fault, 

 the other must be correspondingly strong there. 



VI. Treatment of the Mare After Being Served, During Pregnancy, etc. 



It is proper next to notice some little matters of detail in connection 

 with the management of brood mares. 



Forty-four weeks is regarded as the time which a mare goes with foal ; 

 but this must be taken as mean time, since one occasionally brings forth 

 a perfect colt four or five weeks sooner, and others will go equally as long 

 beyond this period. When once the time of a mare is known, the breeder 

 can generally regulate her going to the horse so as to have the colt appear 

 at whatever season he consideres most desirable, but without this knowl- 

 edge he cannot. 



After- having been served by a horse, the mare should be allowed to 

 stand idle awhile, as conception will be far more apt to take place if she 

 IS left to herself. If put to brisk motion, or to any strain immediately 

 after copulation, she is apt to fail of conception. She should also be kept 

 away from strmg-proud or badly castrated geldings, not only at this 

 period, but during her entire pregnancy, as they are apt to worry her to 

 the casting of the conception, or, at a later period, to slinking the foal. 



After she has been allowed a reasonable season of quiet, moderate work 

 will be rather beneficial than injurious ; and this may be kept up until 

 about the time of foaling. Special care should always be exercised to 

 guard her against being kicked, heavily thrown, or inordinately strained 

 in any way. 



It sometimes occurs that at the time of foaling, a false presentation is 

 made, producing difliculty of delivery ; but no reUable instructions can be 

 here given as to what course to pursue in these cases ; and it is best to 

 seek the aid of some skillful veterinary surgeon. 



The mare which has had a colt will be found in season sometime withitt 

 the next thirty days, and she ought to go to the horse at this time if she 

 is to be bred at all. The ninth day after foaling will generally be found 



