196 THE PRINICIPLES OF BREEDING 



commend or condemn the individual as a breeder. JSTone but a 

 proven sire ?hould be put at the head of a breeding stud. The in- 

 feriority of a horse as a breeder may not be manifested until his 

 get are fairly mature ; in the meantime, the best mares have been 

 bred to him, perhaps for more than one season, and the damage 

 wrought in the stock as well as the time lost may take generations 

 to efface. The prospective sire should be tried out in a limited 

 way with a few mares before being trusted in premier place. It 

 is only for this purpose that the use of stud colts is justifiable. 



Early service cannot improve the development of the colt, and 

 unless carefully managed may be harmful, yet from the owner's 

 point of view it is often desirable to know, early, something of the 

 youngster's ability as a sire. To this end he may be used as a two- 

 or a three-year-old on a few selected mares, all to be served in a 

 short period, so that there may be no interruption in his growth. 



The care and management of the stallion through the breed- 

 ing season may be summarized in a discussion of the feeding, ex- 

 ercise, regulation of service, and grooming. A mutiial balance 

 between food and exercise is the key to condition of the stallion in 

 service. A most effective prescription employed by a prominent 

 veterinarian in one of the most extensive horse breeding districts 

 of this country is, " Halve the ration and double the exercise 

 when the stallion is not giving a vigorous, sure service." 



Feeding. — Vigor and tone are secured for the sire by a ration 

 rich in tissue-building, protein and ash, but with little of the 

 fat forming starches, the whole to be counterbalanced by exercise 

 of some form in the open air. ISTo better grain ration can be 

 offered than oats, but for the sake of variety and relish there may 

 be substituted a little barley or corn, and bran is always a valu- 

 able supplement to any grain ration, since it relaxes the system 

 generally, corrects or prevents digestive disorders, and furnishes 

 an abundance of bone and tissue-building material. 



The draft stallion is most likely to be the victim of a stimu- 

 lating ration that is not counterbalanced by sufficient exercise. 

 The demand for ton horses is responsible for a system of fitting 

 which is not intended to insure foals. Many draft stallions 

 offered for show or sale are in anything but breeding condition. 

 On the other hand, it should not be considered necessary to 



