162 PURE BRED DRAFT HORSES 
2. Diseases, Unsoundness, etc., as Disqualifying Factors 
Fuller states that blindness, heaves, or when the animal is windbroken, 
and most physical unsoundnesses, will be sufficient to bar the mare from 
breeding purposes. Hooper makes the assertion that “any serious unsound¬ 
ness is considered detrimental.” Edmonds believes that a knowledge of 
the history of the disease or unsoundness should first be had before cer¬ 
tain defects or ailments could be adjudged as disqualifying factors of a 
brood mare; for instance, Dix and Stericker hold that all hereditary un¬ 
soundness should constitute a hindrance in entering the mare into the 
breeding stud. Generally speaking, such hereditary diseases as are affect¬ 
ing the bone, respiration, and eyesight should bar the mare from breeding 
purposes: these comprehend the rules followed at the Santa Anita Rancho. 
The following disqualifications of the mare are brought out by Holbert, 
thus: “Side bones on a young mare, puffed hocks or thoroughpin, and 
periodic ophthalmia.” Touching on the same subject, White says that all 
unsoundness and diseases should be considered so, but emphasis is laid on 
side bone, curbs, and bad wind. According to Peterson, mares that are 
blind, or affected with any kind of spavins should not be included in the 
stud, and Haines says: “Any very serious unsoundness which injured the 
usefulness of the mare and which had occurred because of faulty confor¬ 
mation” should be sufficient to disqualify the brood mare. At the Gossard 
Breeding Estates, “all hereditary diseases and deformities” are looked 
upon as detrimental affections of the brood mare, while Haxton and Kiddoo 
consider all diseases, unsoundness, and other defects as disqualifying 
factors. “Poor feet and poor eyes,” according to Moon, should disqualify 
the brood mare in the stud, but Shaw and Hudson bar only two main 
points—“any genetal disorder and baggy hocks.” Peters makes the state¬ 
ment that diseases, unsoundness, and other defects that bar the mare 
from breeding work depend upon the age of the animal in which these 
have developed Seven breeding establishments—the Truman’s Pioneer 
Stud Farm, Iowa State College, Lefebure Sons’ Co., Oakdale Farm, Uni¬ 
versity of Missouri, Oaklawn Farm, and Lakewood Farm—rule that the 
same diseases, unsoundnesses, and other defects as would bar the stud 
horse from breeding purposes should hold true in the case of brood mares. 
3. Breeding Season 
Six stud farms report on opening their breeding season during the 
months of April, May, and June. These include the Selma Farm, Univer¬ 
sity of Illinois, Woodside Farm, Lakewood Farm, G. Andrews and Son, and 
Michigan Agricultural College. The rest of the establishments responding 
give their “open breeding season” at varying periods, thus: At the Uni¬ 
versity of Missouri, from March 1 to July 15; at the J. H. Serven and Son, 
mostly in March, April, and May; at the Truman’s Pioneer Stud Farm 
from April to the middle of July; at the University of Minnesota, from 
April to July; at Purdue University and Iowa State College, chiefly in 
April, May, and June; at the Gossard Breeding Estate, from February 1 to 
June 1; at Wisconsin University, from April to August; at the Pentoila 
Stock Farm, from February to December, being heavy during the months 
of April, May, and June; at the Thompsondale Farm, during the months 
of April, May, June, July, and August; at the Waddington Farm, from 
March to May; at the Chestnut Farms, from March to August; at Long- 
wood Farm, from May 1 and on; at the Ritchie Stock Farm, from April to 
October; at the Hayfield Farm, from February till July; at the Raboin 
Pioneer Homestead Farm, from April 1 to late fall; at the Thos. Kiddoo 
Farm, principally in May; at the Longview Stock Farm, only in the 
month of June; and in the Central Kentucky Farms, during the spring¬ 
time; at the White Oak Stock Farm and Maplegrove Farm the breeding 
