MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 6

MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES.

In the breeding of horses, as in every other occupation, " things done well ar.d with a care exempt themselves from fear." Success in breeding stock of all kinds depends largely on the man who takes the work in bond. Patience and sound judgment are qualities that are absolutely necessary for success. Charles Darwin said truly that " methodical selection has effected and will effect wonderful results." That methodical selection may be successful the closest attention and discernment, combined with unwearied patience, are absolutely necessary. The living structure is slowly buill up" through the power of selection. The importance of the great principle of sekction mainly lies in this power of selecting scaicely appreciable differences, which, nevertheless, aie found to be transmissible, and which can be accumulated until the re»uk is made manifest to the ews of every beholder.

* Tb-e whole art of breeding, from -which such great lesults have been obtained durirg the last century, depends on the inheritance of each small detail if structure. The saying that '" like bogets like " has, in fact, ari-en from the perfect confidence felt by breeders that a superior or inferior animal will generally reproduce its kind. But inheritance is not certain, for if it were, the breeder's art -n ould be reduced to a certainty, and there would be little scope left for that wonderful skill l and uerseverance shown, by men v/ho have kit

an enduring monument of their .success. A. liev chaia-jter, or Some superiority in an old character, is at first faintly pronounced, and is not strongly inherited, and then the full difficulty of selection is experienced. When a new character arises, whatever its nature mny be, it generally tends to be inherited — at" least in a tempolary, and sometimes in a most persistent manner.

Iz should always be remembered that "those ruuiities which have already long withsrood oil counuracting influence's will, as a general rule, continue to withstand them " ; hence the importance of bieeding from animals that strongly inherit the good qualities that give them their individual merit. In all animals there is a tendency to reversion. Like does not always beget like : a foal not infrequently recemoies its remote ancestors to a much greater extent than its sire and its dam. If these ancestors were good representatives of the breed, well and good ; but if they were inferior, disappointment is inevitable. The breeder mu^t study pedigree ; he must make himself acquainted with evc'i'y link in the chain, otherwise his labour may be thrown away. The difficulty of breeding horses, and, indeed, farm animals of ai 1 "kinds, up to the highest stand ird of excellence is proved by the high prices superiority always commands, especially when the superiority is strongly inherited. A breeder must have a clearly predetermined object, and this object he should keep steid:ly in view. Such is the systematic care necessary in selecting animals for breeding purposes that to ensure success a breedci should have, as Darwin said, " an almost prophetic vision into futurity. "' The breeder's object being to obtain a. valuable foal, the first step is to mate r well-bred, well-grown, weir -formed mare that is strong in constitution, quiet in disposition, and that is free from congenital unsoundnr-ss, with a well-bred, well-built, sound, good-tempered stallion that is in vigorous health, and that has already proved by his foals to be a sire of merit. Good action, both in the stallion and in the mare, is of the highest importance. The feet sliould be perfect, and the head in size should be in keeping with the whole frame of the animal." It should be well formed, snd lighted by eyes that are expressive of good spirits and good feeling. A dull-eyed horfe can saldom be relied upon to "respond promptly to the will of his owner. A hcrse that on the slightest provocation shows unduly the white of his eye betrays a disposition that is very undesirable.

In the case of agricultural in- foal mares regular farm work, provided it is not severe, is far better than idleness. Agricultural mares, whilst in fcal, may, in fact, vith trreat advantage to their health be worked daily on the land till they are close upjn fcalmg. It is a mistake to suppose that keeping breeding mares at ordinary farm work is in any way prejudicial to the rearing of wall-developed foals. As a matter of fact few healthier or stronger foals are bred than tho^e of which the dams j.re v>oike r !. It is scirc-'ly necessary to point out. however, that as the period of pregnancy advances the mare should ba liberally "fed and carefully handled; she should not be put to any fast work, and when coming near the time of foaling a, point should be made of not putting her to any work in which she will have to do onv backing. Ploughing forms most suitable work for mares in this condition. It is import nit that her food shall be good of its kind, and sufficient to keep her in good, firm condition. Well-saved clover and ryegrass lny. free from dust, good, home-grown oats and bran cannot be surpassed n5 food for working mares and horses. Idleness and fat, the Arabs say truly, exceedingly hurtful to breeding mares.