MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION 
19 
two-year-old may stand to the limit of 15 mares. He gives the following 
average stallion allowances for individuals of different ages: The two- 
year-old may serve 10 to 15 mares; the three-year-old, 25 to 30 mares; 
the four-year-old, 45 to 60 mares; and the five-year-old or older, 70 to 
100 mares. Axe 38 cites a case of a Shire stallion, which, after having 
completed a heavy stud work in Lancanshire, England, was allowed to 
serve 19 mares in the south where it was then taken to. The mares 
were served the same day the stallion arrived, of which 13 settled. It is 
also remarked that some stallions were known to have covered from 
200 to 260 mares in one season and still leave a proper proportion of 
offspring. It is, however, emphasized that such action taken will eventu¬ 
ally lead to sterility or premature impotence. Wallace 43 asserts that a 
stallion is able to serve 80 mares during the season and get an average 
of 40 to 50 foals, and adds that certain individuals may cover 100 and 
some even 130. It is interesting to note that a horse with one testicle 
down, according to the same authority, can get foals, while if the two 
are both out no foals could be expected. 
According to Allen, 44 the stallion American Eclipse, which was a suc¬ 
cessful getter till the age of 32, began stud work late and light service 
was allowed till he was fully matured. One extreme is here pointed out 
by Walley, 45 however, in that a few draft horses “are capable of ‘stinting’ 
successfully more than five mares in a single day.” He also remarks that 
from an aged stallion a dwarf or puny offspring is to be expected. It is 
interesting to note that Jackson, as quoted by Walley, places the allow¬ 
ance for a stallion in one season at only 25 mares inasmuch as he con¬ 
siders the stallion to make 100 services, or 4 covers to each mare. 
In discussing the question of early service Gay 4 maintains that the 
two-year-old or three-year-old may be permitted to undertake stud work 
on the ground that a knowledge of their ability as a sire is desired at an 
early date. However, they may be allowed to serve only a few selected 
mares, and only for a short period in order that their development may 
not be hampered. Sanders 46 mentions that the two-year-old should not 
be allowed to serve at all, but, for the same reason as Gay 4 presents, he 
may be given a chance to serve a few choice mares in order to test his 
ability as a foal-getter. It is also brought out that the three-year-old 
should be limited to 15 or 20 services and the four-year-old, 20 or 30, while 
in the case of a mature sire 100 mares are given as a safe allowance. 
Sanders purports to restrict the young stallion to serve only a few mares 
and to stand only for a few weeks, allowing two or three mares a week. 
One service a day is advocated although twice a day may be permitted 
rarely. However, should the stallion have had a long rest he may make 
three covers a day for a few days, which should be followed by a rest. In 
the Little Perche in France 47 stallions destined for breeding purposes are 
started on stud work at the age of two years and on until they are four 
years old. At four they are sold in Paris or to foreign caterers. On the 
other hand, in the Great Perche adult stallions are used for breeding 
purposes. The breeders of the Percheron country are also opposed to 
standing stallions below four years old. 
5. Proceedure in Breeding Operations 
Precautions which are necessary in breeding operations as well as 
the proper procedure to be followed in handling the stallion and mares 
on the occasion are given and described by Williams 48 in the following 
manner: “It is desirable, if not frequently essential to safety, that special 
conveniences for restraint be provided for [‘trying’ or ‘teasing’]. 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 
