THE BROOD MARE 2/5 



if the climate is not too severe. A spacious paddock 

 should be arranged in front of the shed, facing the south. 



Productive period in brood mares. — Mares vary 

 widely in fertility, but the most productive period is 

 from four to 12 years of age. In exceptional cases, 

 however, this period may be extended both ways. Occa- 

 sionally a filly will breed freely at two years of age, thus 

 foaling her first colt at three; and, as we have already 

 seen, Old Fanny Cook produced 15 living foals, giving 

 birth to twins at 22 years of/age, and there are many 

 similar cases, especially among the lighter types. 



Breeding two-year-old fillies. — Among practical horse 

 breeders there is much difference of opinion as to the 

 advisability of breeding a two-year-old mare. Many per- 

 sons assert that the breeding of a filly at so early an age 

 tends to retard her development ; that she will not make 

 so large or vigorous an animal as she otherwise would 

 and that the foal is handicapped in its development be- 

 cause of having an immature dam. On the other hand, 

 there are breeders who state that early pregnancy has a 

 tendency to stimulate the development of the dam, to 

 increase the fertility, and that the first foal, if from 

 a filly at least three years of age, stands just as good a 

 chance as the first foal from a mature mare. 



From experience, it seems that the practicability of 

 breeding a two-year-old filly depends on at least three 

 factors : The breed, the individuality of the mare and 

 the object sought. As a rule, Horses of the heavy type 

 mature younger than those of the light type. A draft 

 filly at two years of age is often as mature as a trotting, 

 running or saddle filly at three years of age. Individual 

 mares differ in the way they mature, as a smoothly 

 turned, neat and well-finished one develops much younger 

 than a rough, coarse and growthy individual. Maturity 

 is influenced by the feed and care. A filly that is kept 

 growing continuously from birth will mature earlier than 

 one imperfectly cared for and which receives a set back 



