20 
PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
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 suf¬ 
ficiently resistant that the mare cannot kick through it. The use of a 
single pole to separate the stallion and the mare is insecure and hazard¬ 
ous 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 . . . 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 side instead of from the rear. If both are kept well 
in hand, any attempt to kick on the part of the mare should be at once 
counteracted by vigourously drawing her head toward the stallion, thus 
turning her heels from him. After coition has been completed and the 
stallion is dismounting the same rule should constantly be applied and 
the mare brought at once to face the stallion in order to avoid kicks. 
“Owners of valuable stallions generally prefer to obtain yet greater 
security by the application of hobbles. Two forms are used of which 
there are numerous varieties. By one plan, a hobble is buckled about 
each hind pastern, a rope of sufficient length attached to each, and the 
two free ends are carried forward between the forelegs and securely tied 
to a strong collar or the end may be carried upwards on either side of 
the necks and tied on the top sufficiently tight to prevent the mare from 
kicking backward for any important distance. By the second plan, the 
hobbles are attached to the hocks instead of the pasterns. In this case, 
each hobble is doubled and one portion of each is attached above, the 
other below the hock of each hind leg, and by ropes or straps are fixed 
forward the same as in the preceding. The latter possesses some points 
of superiority. The mare is not so liable to become entangled in the 
ropes and injure herself and the stallion is probably also exposed to less 
danger of getting his foot caught in the securing apparatus. Whatever 
the form of breeding hobbles or other confining apparatus, they need 
be secure and strong. 
“If accidents are to be avoided, it is also highly important that the 
mare is properly in estrum and that she is not frightened or angered. 
Gentleness and patience in the handling of both stallion and mare and 
postponing copulation until the proper moment are always essential 
elements of safety in breeding. Some breeders place a twitch upon the 
mare’s nose until the stallion has safely mounted her.” 
Sanders 40 advises the use of a structure for trying mares. This con¬ 
sists of a barrier made up of three posts set up parallel to and about four 
feet away from a solid wall, on both sides of which are nailed oak or 
other hardwood boards from the ground to a reasonable height. On the 
top of this should be nailed a capping which would prevent injury. The 
mare is led into the space inside and the stallion is allowed to tease the 
mare by her left side, but the horse should be controlled by the bit, if re¬ 
quired, and not allowed to have his nose go farther back than the mare’s 
flank. According to him some stallions would not take a liking for 
certain mares, in which case another mare in heat may be led into the 
