The Brood Mare 283 
mare which the stallion breeds does not take the semen 
completely into the uterus. If the semen, however, does 
all go into the uterus, it cannot be obtained by this 
method. Therefore, it is not largely used, as it cannot 
always be depended on, but it is a very easy and useful 
method in some cases. 
With all of these methods of artificial impregnation, it 
is advisable to have the mares in heat, although some 
results have been obtained otherwise. All the mares 
should be at the breeding place at the same time. The 
semen may be kept for a limited interval if under ideal 
conditions, but this is not advisable, as the spermatozoa 
weaken rapidly even when kept in the best manner 
possible. It is also necessary that everything be kept in 
sanitary condition, and that the operator be exceedingly 
careful in regard to temperature and light. Artificial 
impregnation as a whole has proved very successful 
and will doubtless be used more in the future. 
Care after service. 
After the mare has been bred she should be kept rather 
quiet for several hours, but after that she may be put to 
work as usual. The best treatment she can receive is 
steady work and three mealsa day. If there is no slipping, 
straining, or jerking, and the mare keeps up in condition 
on good feed, the work is probably not too hard, providing 
it be steady. The mare should not be worked so hard that 
she will run down in condition on good feed. If there is 
any slacking in the work it should be about the fifth or 
sixth month, as it is at that time that the foetus is making 
its most rapid growth. During the last months of preg- 
nancy the mare can do a large amount of work without 
injury. If the mare is working steadily it will not hurt 
