JACKS, JENNETS AND MULES 2^ 



four months old, and is well matured for that age, 

 he might be permitted to serve a mare. In breaking 

 the jack colt you should be very careful and not allow 

 him to be kicked or bitten, or go about a mare that is 

 ill and will switch her tail and back her ears. Such 

 action on the part of the mare is calculated to in- 

 timidate a young jack, but on the other hand it is best 

 to have a low mare that the jack will not have to 

 strain himself in getting up on, and it is best 

 to have her served by another jack or stallion so 

 that she will be in good heat and make no resistance. 

 I used to break my young jacks by using an Indian 

 pony mare. 



I am not writing this book for the Ladies' Home 

 Journal, nor for the general public, but for the young 

 jack and jennet breeders that want information on 

 that subject. Having known so many fine jacks 

 spoiled by carelessness or for the want of experience 

 or information is my apology for writing on the sub- 

 ject with so much plainness and precision. 



I have often been consulted in regard to young 

 jacks springing in their fore legs. While the colt is 

 very young the animal matter predominates over the 

 bony or calcareous matter. Hence, they are liable to 

 spring or give way, especially when the colt com- 

 mences to graze and the grass is short. He is re- 

 quired to put too much weight on one of his fore legs 

 to enable him to reach the grass, hence there is a 

 giving way in the joints. It is usually the knee that 

 springs in, or out, but some time the ankle gives way 

 or I have known the arm joint to fail. Then again 

 where the jack colt has a very low dam, and he is 

 tall and has to stoop to suck, compelling him to put 



