is essential that she be in full possession of her natural strength and powers; the form should not be defective, nor should there exist want of blood: the absurd idea of having a big-bellied and long-backed mare, is, or ought to be, exploded. The vigour of the constitution determines much more in favour of the foal than the size of the dam's belly. It is a great error to suppose that a mare that has once been good, and capable of great exertion, should, when old, and no longer fitted for ordinary work, produce offspring equally efficient as when in her prime; the foal must inherit some of the weakness of the present nature and broken-down constitution. Mares will breed at four years old; some call in the stallion at three; but when two years only are allowed to elapse, the system should be reprobated for many reasons: strength and beauty at such an age must still be absent; and thus not only is the dam rendered inefficient sooner than another that has been allowed to run longer, but the foal can never be expected to be either healthy or strong in constitution. One month after foaling the mare may be put to the stallion; although nine days will sometimes suffice, yet this is generally deemed too early, as the dam is necessitated to nourish two offspring at the same time, which is excessively weakening, and liable to injure one or other of the foals.

The sign of a mare being in heat is the ejection of a viscid whitish lymph, and the inflation of the lower portion of the vulva; she neighs frequently, and exhibits great desire for the horse: when she has conceived she shows no further desire, and the fluid stops, which is generally a certain sign. The sixth month decides, when she should be allowed good substantial food; two feeds of corn every day. At this age abortion is liable to occur; hence great gentleness and care should be

exercised towards them. Moderate exercise is also essential; but when the mare is used in harness it is very dangerous to use her on bad roads, or to pull heavy or dead weights. When the period of foaling draws nigh, she should be separated from other horses; and in the act of bringing forth, nature generally performs the operation infinitely better than when human aid is called in; but in some cases there may exist a little difficulty, and an apparent uneasiness and unusual labouring, then assistance is useful, but even then it requires some judgment. Having foaled, turn the mare into a fine pasture, in which there is a shed to shelter her if the weather comes on wet. The foal may be weaned at five or six months old. Although it is known that mares take the horse early after foaling, the breed is much finer, and the mare herself retains her vigour and utility much longer, when put to the stallion only every other year.

Disproportioned copulations are also bad, as a large horse and small mare; the size of a horse should be produced by gentle gradations, and this is evidently a better way to arrive at beauty as well as strength.

Breeding in and in, as the term is, proves a sure mode of procuring improvement. That is to persevere in the same breed, and making selections of the best on both sides. Much judgment and circumspection is necessary at all times in crossing the breed, and many errors and faults arise from the carelessness or ignorance of breeders in tnis respect, whose only ambition is to procure a colt that they may shortly sell at seventy or eighty guineas; and, failing in this, without any thought they still return to the same system, never giving a moment's reflection or forethought as to the cause of their first disappointment.

Mares which have once slinked their foals are very

liable to a recurrence of the same; and when one mare suffers abortion, if there are others in the same field they are likely to undergo the same.

ON THE REARING OF COLTS.

Ir is highly important that during the period the foal is with the dam she should be well fed, as by stinting, the growth and strength is at this period easily arrested, and errors of this kind are not afterwards to be remedied.

As the foal acquires strength of limbs it should be allowed to follow the mare during the periods of exercise or work. By this method it becomes familiarised with surrounding objects: the grooms and persons about the stable should also show great kindness towards it, and caress it; by these means it soon acquires the habit of being handled, and will not exhibit signs of fear when persons approach it. At four months old the legs may be occasionally lifted up, and the feet may soon after be gently hammered; this will introduce it to the future habit of shoeing.

While the foal is weaning, which generally takes place at six months old, it is better to put it into a stall for some time, or, as some recommend, a rickyard, where the dam is not in the habit of going; here the foal will find both food and shelter. At this period, and for some time after, good feeding is very necessary: bruised oats and bran will be very excellent provender. As soon as thoroughly weaned, it should no longer be housed, but put into a pasture where it can feed at pleasure, and can shelter itself in a hovel or shed when it rains.

The halter may soon be put on, and it should be occasionally led, and then tied up; grooming and dressing must be sometimes practised; and thus, by degrees, it becomes associated with every thing to which it is destined as age and strength advance; it also, by this steady process, becomes tractable, and does not lose its temper, which is a most essential point in the value of the horse.

At a year old, the colts and fillies should be separated until the former are castrated.

On the operation of castration, which takes place after the colt is six or seven months old, mention has been made at page 180.

When about two and a half years old, the two front teeth are shed. The colt at this period should have bran-mashes with hay cut like chaff, for the loss prevents their eating the grass as ably as heretofore.

When colts do not thrive, and their coats stare, and they are given to be hide-bound, the following ball may be used :

Socotrine Aloes
Castile Soap

mixed.

4 drachms,

2 drachms,

When worms is the cause, which is easily told by the appearance of whitish-coloured powder around the anus, twenty grains or more, according to the age, of calomel, may be administered on the night preceding the giving of the ball.

ON COLT-BREAKING

THE colt having been by degrees handled, haltered, led to exercise, and tied up, the bit having been occa

sionally left in his mouth for some time, and, finally, having become familiarised to every portion of the harness, the next essential object is to teach him to move properly, to obey the voice and motion of the rider or driver, and to regulate his paces: this is termed "breaking in," and is oftentimes a most tedious and irksome job; and consequently requires a very sweet and mild, but determined temper, to overcome the many difficulties attendant on the operation.

Patience and kindness will generally prevail, when roughness and barbarity ruins the animal for ever; the whip is sometimes necessary, but it should always be used judiciously and gently.

Never allow the horse to appear to have obtained the mastery; it is in this instance that energy, patience, and determination is requisite; once lose this point, and as much harm is done, at least, as regards your own management of the horse, as by cruelty and barbarity.

All the early lessons should be inculcated by kindness and caressing. In the after parts of the education, the whip is often judiciously called into action; but harshness will undo much that has already been favourably overcome, and obstinacy or vice may

ensue.

The colt is first -led with the cavesson, which is attached to the head-stall and buckled round the nose; gentleness is very requisite in the use of this instrument, being very severe. The bones of the nose have sometimes become diseased through the pressure and bruising it has endured; especially from the violent and sudden jerkings of an impatient or irritable breaker.

A long rein is then put on, and the first lesson may be given. A person following at a convenient distance.