Physical Injuries 51 



In the preparations for copulation there is little danger except 

 in case of horses. Breeding customs and conveniences bring 

 into the procedure a period of "trying" or "teasing" of the 

 mare by the stallion, both for the purpose of determining the 

 existence of estrum and bringing about the desired degree of 

 sexual excitement before permitting an attempt at copulation. 

 In this act there are numerous dangers, especially to the stallion. 

 It is desirable, if not frequently essential to safety, that special 

 conveniences for restraint be provided for this purpose. They 

 should consist ordinarily of a strong, solid wall about three feet 

 high and ten to twelve feet in length with a rather broad and 

 rounded top. The chief object of the structure is the avoidance of 

 kick wounds which may be inflicted upon the stallion by the mare. 

 To this end it should be merely of sufficient height to guard 

 against such an accident and sufficiently resistant that the mare 

 cannot kick through it. The use of a single pole to separate 

 the stallion and the mare is insecure and hazardous as either 

 may kick through beneath it and injure the other. 



It is also highly essential that the top of the structure be 

 rounded, smooth and free from projections. Either the mare or 

 stallion may get beyond the control of the groom and kick or 

 leap upon the structure and, unless properly built, serious injury 

 is liable to occur. To this end the wall should be low enough 

 that, either animal, getting upon it by rearing or kicking, may 

 readily free itself without injury. 



In one instance the. author attended a stallion, which, becom- 

 ing impatient, had passed beyond the control of the groom, 

 reared to mount the mare and became impaled upon a projecting 

 post at one end of the structure, causing a serious hernia and 

 almost eventration. Posts should not extend above the top of 

 the structure or, doing so, should continue so high as to make 

 injury in this manner impossible. 



When this preparatory period has been passed and copulation 

 has been decided upon, there arise fresh dangers to the stallion 

 from kicks by the mare while approaching her or in the act of 

 mounting. Two methods of avoiding accidents at this point are 

 used ; without and with hobbles. In the first method, when both 

 stallion and mare are well broken and controllable and competent 

 grooms have each well in hand, the stallion should be caused to 

 approach the mare's head and then allowed to mount from the 



