THE BROOD MARE. 179 



dition ; while, if thrown up and turned out 

 to grass beforehand, the better chance there 

 will be of her proving in foal. With some 

 mares this precaution seems to be superfluous, 

 with others it is essential ; but all should 

 be tried repeatedly through the season, 

 since the surest breeders may turn, I have 

 a thoroughbred mare at the present time, 

 which seems to make a point of having 

 her foal as late in the year as she can, 

 so that unless we had persevered with her 

 she might never have given us one at all. 

 Late foaling is a disadvantage when the 

 offspring is intended for racing, since the 

 thoroughbred, in whatever month born, has 

 to date his age from Januaiy 1st ; so that 

 one born in Jime is considerably handicapped 

 in a weight-for-age race, either at two or 

 three years old ; and the same applies also 

 to foals intended for showing, where so much 

 favour (a great deal too much probably) 

 is shown to mere size and early development. 



