REPLIES TO A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ON BREEDING. 3 
THE ENTIRE HORSE. 
Our correspondents inform us that, from the age of 
4 years up to 30, an entire horse is used for the purpose of 
getting stock. On this question some very curious facts 
have been furnished us as to the advanced age at which 
horses will procreate their species. Mr. Gibbon speaks of a 
horse that got several foals when 33 years old. Many well- 
authenticated instances can be found of horses getting stock 
quite as late in life as Mr. Gibbon has stated; and we have 
heard, on reliable authority, of horses procreating at even a 
much later period of life.* I perfectly well recollect a half- 
bred entire horse, which had been employed as a hunter 
until he was 20 years of age, and up to which period he had 
never covered a mare ; after this he w r as used as a stallion 
only, and continued as such until he was 28 years old. He 
got a great many foals every season; but it was generally 
doubted whether his produce had that amount of stamina 
that they would have had had their sire been a younger 
horse. 
Our correspondents are somewhat inexplicit as to the 
earliest periods at which foals may be got ; and little is said 
by them relating to entire horses being put to mares at a 
very early age, although it is stated that this occurs as early 
as 2 years old. Mr. F. Chamberlain says, that early sexual 
intercourse in excess does occasionally produce impotency. 
Mr. J. T. Merrick believes that it tends to that effect only 
when carried to excess at an early age. Mr. W. T. Stanley 
remarks, that excess of sexual intercourse at an early age 
temporarily debilitates the animal, and that in the following 
season he will have regained his vigour. Mr. Barker ob- 
serves, that two-year-old horses are allowed but few mares 
during the first season ; hence the few cases of impotency 
arising from early excessive sexual intercourse among them. 
In bulls, however, it is by no means uncommon for both 
vigour and development to be arrested, from early and too 
frequent access to cows. 
Nearly all our correspondents agree that seminal emissions 
do take place in the entire horse; and that they are not in- 
voluntary, but depend generally upon excitement, and espe- 
cially from the presence of mares. It must also be allowed, 
that if this act does take place to excess, debility follows. But 
although such is the case, and in hot climates in particular, 
it is not so in this country to any injurious extent, so far as 
my experience goes. Nevertheless, breeders should make it 
