The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-05-11
MARES AND COLTS.
An ESSAY READ BEFORE THE CONCORD
MASSACHUSETTS FARMERS CLUB, BY
Hon. JOHN S. KEYEs, OF CONCORD.

|
1T uhat age and in ,ohdt condition are
mares best suited for breedingf HsW
should they be treated during CESSATION
What is the best management Of colts un.
Ill they are three years old
Breeding is a science ofwhich but lit
tie is known, and that little but poorly
practiced. Most of it is dene in loose
way, without much attention to any
thing but convenience, and the results
are what might be expeeted,-uncertaln
and proftless. When proper care and
attention is bestowed animals may be
bred almost to order, and among the
large and experienced breeders in Yer
mont, New Hampshire, and Maine, colts
! of almost any size, shape, color and
Qualities are raised as wanted. Ofcourse
this requires knowledge of the science,
a care for every detail, and an expense
in the selection of the stock that are
alone consistent with making this
business, following it as any business
must be pursued, to make 1t sue
cess.
Fer our purpose in this discussion,
three questions are to be answered, ana
all others need not now be considered.
To the first-the best age and condition
of the mare for breediDg-there is but
one reply: in the prime of her years and
finest order. But to this reply, there are
many limitations Of cost, profit ana
convenience, which will materially
modify the answer, according TO the
circumstances of each case. For farmers
who wish only to raise colt occasion
ally, either for their own use or for sale,
we must be governed by the c0nve-
nience to our work and the cost OF the
trial. We cannot take the family mare
from her work of all kinds on the farm
and give up the use for nearly If not
quite the whole season, to get foai,
without supplying the place at an ex-
pense not warranted by the profit. Ii
she gets injured by an accident, or
used up by many reasons of hard work,
we are too apt to put her to breeding,
as the best use that can be made OF her,
though there is more certainty OF get
ting poor stock in that way than OF
pro6t. But we can do, this and 1t Is,
under all conditions, the best plan: let
that filly have foal before she is put
to work. This is the real secret of sue
cessful, pecusiary result III breeding
horses. Every filly breed before work
ing in all those sections where raising
colts is followed. 1t is the best time III
my Judgment at from three to four
years old, depending on the size and
maturity of the animal. 1t saves them
from being worked at too young and
tender an age; and it imparts to the OIL
spring all the vigor the mother natural
ly possesses, unimpaired by any of the
hardships, or strains she may undergo
in work. 1t developes her own frame
and bodily powers, and, if well kept be-
fore and during CESSATION, with no in.
iurious results. Such a filly that had
been kept growing her first three years,
without stint of good, nutritious food,
with great freedom of range in the pas
ture, and roomy, ventilated stalls, and
moderate exercise during the winter, if
pnt to horse in the prime of his pow
ers. say from seven to twelve years Old,
could not fail of bringing as good u colt
as she ever would produce from that
horse at any age. Indeed, believe Il
better, or one that would rather take
my chances with, than of any born later
in life, after the mare had worked even
on a farm, to say nothing of stable or
CITY use. The colt then would be
weaned and the mare ready for breaking
and use at from four to five years old,
and be worth more than if she had new
er bred, besides, paying all her keeping
to that age, with the one good colt thus
raised.
As to the second question, mares
should be treated during CESSATION as
naturally as possible, whether by this
is meant either the actual time of birth
or the whole period of bearing. Their
work should never be severe or long con-
tinued, and their keeping such as would
supply both mare and foal with ample
nourishment. Too high condition might
not be better than moderate order, but
it would be vastly preferable to any
stinting or scanty fare. In the event of
breeding at the earlier age, three or
four years old, they should be at pas.
ture all the season wauld permit, and
in the winter should have no work only
moderate exercise, to keep them grow
ing constantly.
Breeding later III life, after the mare
has been worked, she should be kept
at grass as long as possible, and If re-
uuired to work great care should be
taken to prevent auy over-work or un-
due exposure, and the feed should lie
liberal TO support not only the mare
but the foal. With care and good treat
ment, the colt may not suffer or he any
the worse for the use of the mare during
the earlier stages of pregnancy, but no
such tax as hard work and breeding can
be imposed on any animal, without in
Jury. For some time before the birth,
she should be at pasture if possible and
| if not, should have a box stall and q
yard for exercise, and entire freedom
from restraint in the motious, by tying,
&C.. Generally spesking, no other or
peculiar care is required than nature
gives the mare the instinct to seek for
herself, though if we artifcially inter
fere with this instinct, we ought to
provide as nearly as may be the natural
conditions of the animal.
Third. The foal being born, for a few
weeks needs ne care but the mothers,
though if it is accustomed to being
handled and caressed from the very
first, it will be easier to break. 1t is
we'll, too, to let the colt accompany the
mare in the light work she may do
while nursing, as it thereby gets aocus,
toned to the objects that it is to be IA
miliar with afterwards, and to learn
more early the great lesson of obe-
dience. Good pasturage for the mare,
and freedom, are the best for both, as it
is the most natural. As soon as weaned,
and when conveniently situated, even
earlier, the colt should be broken
to the halter and taught daily, with
patience and gentleness, some OF the
many lessons it has got to learn Too
much care and kindness cannot be
used, and the great majority of the
faults of horses are the results of faults
of the owner, in breaking. Good feed
sufficient to keep the colt steadily grow
ing, rowen, roots, and green fodder,
with but little grain, where these can
be obtained, are the best.
The different processes in biting,
Harvesting and accustomiug the colt to
vehicles aud use, should be gradually,
but steadily pursued, aud above all
things ii should never be frightened or