275 



PRACTICAL HORSE BREEDING 



The process of breeding. — The stallion should ^ ^on+h 

 hands of a caretaker who understands his work ^„j.y 

 oughly. Englishmen and Scotchmen, by virtue of .1 • 

 training abroad, usually make the best grooms. 1 , 

 stallion standing for public patronage should have L 

 properly constructed breeding plant. This may consist 

 of an inexpensive shed with an earth floor on which to 

 breed the mares. At one side of the shed erect a teasing 

 stall in which to try the mares. The front and side of 

 the stall should be boarded up solid for about 4 feet. 

 This is preferable to the teasing pole, as neither the mare 

 nor stallion can injure each other by striking or kicking. 



No matter how gentle the mare may be, the breeding 

 hopples should be used at time of service. It only takes 

 a moment to adjust them, and they will avoid all acci- 

 dent. The hopples should be adjusted snugly so as to 

 prevent the mare from stepping about. Many a valu- 

 able stallion has been injured when -it was thought un- 

 necessary to take tliis precaution. When the mare is in 

 place lead the stallion from his stall, making him come up 

 quietly and at right angles to her. It is better to train 

 the stallion to mount from the side rather than from 

 behind. Train him to come up quietly; do not allow 

 him to tear all over the plant in his efforts to mount and 

 do not allow him to nip at the mare. 



