CARE OF fall! MARE. 299 



when there is some grass, as the mare will do better not to be con- 

 fined to dry feed. 



The virgin mare, or one that has not had a colt for one season, 

 must be put when she is found in season. The mare that has had a 

 colt will be found in season, and should be put on the eighth or 

 ninth day after foaling ; some prefer the eighth, others the eleventh. 

 Good judges claim that it is dangerous to go beyond the tenth, as 

 the mare is apt to come off her heat soon after, and if allowed to 

 , go to a later period, the sucking of the colt is likely, to reduce the 

 mare too much to allow conception to take place, and. thus a year's 

 Service of the breeder is lost. 



After putting a mare, the days for trial are the ninth after serv- 

 ice, 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 elaps- 

 ing between a mare's going out of heat, and coming in again, mak- 

 ing /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 excitement, abuse, etc. Especial 

 care .should be exercised in this matter, as fright, exposure to bad 

 weather, improper feeding, 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 flourished 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 post- 

 poned 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 weather 

 in winter. They should be treated gently ; may be broken early to 



