The Southern herald., 1889-01-12
Breeding Mares and Coils.

! am now fifty-tiyo years old and
have had some considerable expert
eDce during that time in stock breed
ing. For the last ten years i have
kept a stallion or jack, and raised a
good many colts. During that time
] have been close observer Of the
many little things which are always
necessary 30 the accomplishment OF
greater things. Now, / see that ohe
man wants to know what sort of a
mare he should breed to. / will say,
none but good ones. The mare should
Be Of good blood and qualities, and
not under medium size; head rather
small, with a good eye IN II;
body long, hips broad, withers
deep, legs short. Still, mares of
other shapes bring good colts. Another
man wants to know what sort Of a
horse or jack he should breed his mare
to. say that they should be well
bred, good size, very compact and with
good eye. In raising horses it is just
as. important to have a good mare TO
breed from as it is good stallion, aud
in raising mules it is all-important to
have fine mare II you want fine
mule. Il does not cost any more To
raise a fine horse or mule than a scrub.
Then why not raise the best. Another
man wants to know how long mare
will carry a foal. Mares carry their
foals from ten months and thirteen days
to eleven months and seventeen days.
Eleven months and from three to seven
days, and eleven to fifteen days, is most
common, regardless OF their age; some
persons think that old mares carry
their foal longer than young onos. As
to how old the colt should be when
wcaned / think 1t may be weaned ai
five months. but six or seven months
is better time Always have q good
pasture to turn them into at weaving
time, for the next three years to come.
When three years old the colt should
have better attention, as it will be
shedding its toeth at that time, As ID
the best forage for cplts in the winter.
| would suggest oats, hay, German mil
let. with as much green pasture as
possible. Swamp cane is very good,
The colt should not eat much Indian
corn until it is four years old. and
should be kept in good growing CON
dition, but not too fat up to three
years old. After that work your
colt moderately all the time and feed
him we'll and he will make you bet
ter horse or mule than ii you had KEEP
him fat all the time and worked hin
but little. Now, about working mares
during pregnancy, they may be worked
all tho time until a short while before
foaling time, say one month. with ad
vantage to the foal and mare. They
should, however, be worked slow ant
kindly; never ride or drive them fast
nor carry any thing heavy on theii
loins, not even small child. Th'
reader may ask. "How do yoI
treat mare that has been Sinking
her coltspn Treat her kindly. a
above recommended, and II your tnnr'
has been sinking her colts at five
six, or seven months, as the case may
be. when she has carried the next on
nearly the same length Of time yol
should watch her very closely, and !
you soc signs Of abortion, give her on
table spoonful Of powdered ba<k iron
the common black-haw root, pounded
onco a day for few days Il be
udder should spring up a little and yo'
see other signs Of abortion. double Ia
dose and give it twice o day until tn
slgns disappear ! am raising fror
three mares that have lost colts. an