MANAGEMENT OF THE BROOD MARE 
39 
desires that the tail be set rather low on wide hips. Thus, a level or 
straight hip with high tail-setting are disfavored. He says: “The pelvis 
should be v/ide and deep, that is to say, it should be large and roomy, and 
there should also be a little more than the average length from the hip 
to the shoulder, so as to give plenty of bed to the foal, as well as a good 
depth of back ribs, which are necessary in order to support this in¬ 
creased length.” 
According to Roudebush, 70 a good brood mare ought to be intelligent, 
docile, non-irritable, a good suckler, that she does not worry about her 
foal, and her heart girth should be large. 
It is interesting to note that broken-winded mares, according to Hunt, 75 
seldom would breed. 
Other points being normal, the brood mare, according to Plumb, 9 
should be selected on the basis of sex character, conformation, constitu¬ 
tional vigor and temperament. Of these he writes: “The sex character 
of the mare is seen in a smaller and more refined head than has the 
stallion, and a more slender, less muscular neck. The beautiful, symmet¬ 
rical proportions of head; the mild, quiet, inquiring eyes; and the 
delicate attentive ears, give strong evidence of feminine and maternal 
qualities; if the stallion is bold and independent, the mare is both shy 
and friendly. The udder of the mare is small, consisting of a double 
gland and two teats. This is not conspicuous, excepting while nursing 
the foal. It is desirable that the judge note the size of the udder and 
teats. If nursing, the udders should be well extended between the thighs, 
and carry two good sized teats. 
“The conformation of the mare is narrower all through than in the 
stallion. The shoulders are comparatively light, the withers narrow, the 
breast and chest less thick than with the male, and the body long and deep. 
At maturity, the belly of the mare often shows considerable roundness 
and downward curve features associated with reproduction. While her 
back should be well sustained, she should show a long line and great 
capacity between the front and hind flanks. The limbs of the mare often 
display delicacy of outline and refinement of bone. 
‘The constitutional vigor of the mare as with the stallion, is shown in 
the active, alert character of head and eye, in the depth and prominence 
of breast, the width and strength of back, and the length, depth and 
capacity of body. There are really no essential differences, excepting in 
degree, in the various features which guide one in determining con¬ 
stitutional vigor, in either mare or stallion. 
“The temperament of the mare is less active as a rule than in the 
case of the stallion. She is not self-assertive, but not necessarily lacking 
in interest in things about her. Her disposition may be quite variable, 
though she is not likely to be as aggressive as the stallion. The tempera¬ 
ment in most cases is more notable from the standpoint of type than sexA 
2. Breeding and Productive Age 
Smith 49 gives the period of puberty of the horse at one and one-half 
years of age and Bergman 41 puts it from one to 2 years. Bergman 41 alsc 
says that individuals are known to have foaled at 22 and 30 months oi 
age. Murray 77 places the breeding age at two years, saying that no harn: 
would result provided that the mare is not worked while nursing the 
foal. Wallace 43 also vouches for the plan of breeding the 2-year-olds, and 
maintains that the best Shire foals are produced from mares bred at such 
an early age, which, however, are liberally fed and are early-maturing. 
According to Sanders, 40 if the 2-year-olds are to be bred at all, they 
should not be bred the next year but again afterwards so as to foal at 
5 years of age. Otherwise, he advocates to breed mares for the first 
time as 3-year-olds and continuously on without intermission so long 
as she is fertile. Kennedy 01 and Dimon 40 likewise give similar opinion, 
