6. A hunting stock is a good form of neckwear in any weather; a silk tie is not.
7. Spurs, if worn, should be very short and blunt.
8. Garters are useful for keeping the breeches in place, especially if the breeches have no continuations.
9. Bootjacks are necessary for pulling off long boots and boot-hooks for pulling them on.
10. Jockeys are convenient for preventing the breeches getting over the top of the boots when the latter are being pulled on.
11. Wollen gloves kept under the flap of the saddle are useful in case the weather turns very wet and the leather ones become slippery.
12. Waterproofs of varying designs are occasionally strapped on to the saddle.
13. A sandwich case and flask is another adjunct to a hunting man's kit.

NOTES ON BREEDING

1. Do not breed from a mare of faulty conformation.
2. Lameness due to accident, etc., is, however, no detriment.
3. As a rule conformation comes from the stallion, constitution from the mare.
4. Neither parent should have ringbone, sidebone, spavin, navicular, stringhalt, cataract, or broken wind.
5. The pregnancy of a mare is about eleven months, sometimes a little more. Ten months is the very least for successful delivery.
6. The date of conception is not definite; it may be some days subsequent to mating.
7. Mares are often ten days overdue, and sometimes more.
8. The periods of a mare are 4 to 7 days, and are recurrent every three weeks.
9. If a mare has not been impregnated, her periods return after about three weeks. If she is in foal, her periods cease.
10. It is no proof of pregnancy that a mare refuses a stallion, but it is suggestive.
11. Mares up to any age can foal, but an old mare does not produce such good stock.
12. Signs of pregnancy are: that the periods cease; that the mare is quiet and careful in her movements; that she is lazy and often puts on flesh. The size of the abdomen is no sure guide. Later on the udder falls and wax forms on the teats.
13. For several weeks before delivery the foal can be heard kicking, especially when the mare drinks.
14. At this period, begin to accustom the mare to being handled round the udder.
15. Soon afterwards she will begin to show signs of labour and display uneasiness, excitement or nervousness. She lies down, gets up, strains, and and often seeks solitude. The attacks increase.
16. As the time for delivery approaches she should have a clean airy loose box which has been well disinfected. Allow her plenty of bedding, and visit her frequently, but do not disturb.
17. If she requires help at the birth, gently grab the foal's legs, which soon protrude, and, as the mare strains, pull backwards towards the hocks.

previous page | next page