zo8 Diseases of the Genital Organs 



strong that no mare can break them, always allowing a safe 

 margin of strength beyond that considered essential, and 

 that the fastenings are secure in every detail, making slip- 

 ping or accidental detachment impossible. 



If accidents are to be avoided, it is highly important that 

 the mare is properly in estrum and that she is not frightened 

 or angered. Gentleness and patience in the handling of both 

 stallion and mare and postponing copulation until the proper 

 moment are always essential elements of safety in breeding. 

 Some breeders place a twitch upon the mare's nose until the 

 stallion has safely mounted her. Much of the danger arises 

 through the lack of ability upon the part of the groom to 

 diagnose estrum. Some grooms think when a mare crowds 

 against the teasing-pole and urinates, she is in estrum, when 

 as a matter of fact she is angry. A groom should learn 

 that a mare, not in estrum at all, when confined to be 

 teased by a stallion and unable to get away, will crowd to- 

 ward him, squat, and expel small quantities of urine simply 

 as an expression of anger (a gelding, when tightly confined, 

 occasionally gives vent to his anger by a characteristic 

 neigh and the expulsion of urine in small quantities) . If 

 opportunity offers, such a mare will kick viciously. Some 

 stallions are so poorly broken that they rush at a mare vio- 

 lently and, if opportunity is given her, she will kick from 

 fright in self-defense. The proper knowledge on the part 

 of the groom, enabling him to diagnose estrum, and the 

 proper control of the stallion, are prime essentials to safety. 



In breeding mares to jacks, it is customary to place the 

 mare in a pit where she is closely confined and rests upon a 

 plane a foot or more lower than that upon which the jack 

 stands. This not only gives an advantage to the compara- 

 tively small male by affording him an elevation, but also 

 secures him against kicks from the mare, a highly essential 

 precaution because, since the mare ordinarily resents copula- 

 tion with the ass, the act is largely in the nature of rape. 



Disparity in size is a common cause of fractures in cattle 

 of both sexes. When a young bull attempts to copulate with 

 a large cow, he is liable, at the moment of the sudden copu- 



