CHAPTER VIII 
THE FOAL 
BEFORE dealing with the treatment of the foal and 
the youngster till he reaches a saleable age, let me 
add a few words to what I have already said on the 
subject of stallions. An entire horse that has been 
wintered well and starts his season in robust condi- 
tion, with a month’s daily exercise to strengthen 
his muscles, invigorate him, and prepare him for the 
road, should be able, at three years old, to serve 50 
mares, at four years old 100 mares, and afterwards 
100 to 150 mares a season till he is ten or twelve 
years old. Up toa certain point an easy-tempered, 
vigorous horse does his work better and foals his 
mares more surely, the more he serves, A five- 
year-old horse that serves 70 mares in a season will 
be a surer foal-getter than one that serves only 20. 
When I say that a horse at age may serve without 
injury to himself or his reputation, 150 mares, I 
presume the horse to have been kept on the best 
quality of liberal rations, well stabled and cared for, 
and to be travelling a fair but not excessive distance 
with, say, three nights a week in his own stable. 
The capacity of a horse depends on his temperament. 
Thoroughbred stallions should, as a rule, not serve 
