in a small inclosure, in which she may trot indeed, and even canter, or gallop at half speed, but in which she cannot well get to her racing speed, or she will be likely to overdo herself, besides running the chance of getting falls and other accidents, which may produce consequences the most disastrous. Such enclosures should be divided by fences sufficiently high and solid that they shall not present to the animals the idea of being easily surmounted or broken through,—for if they seem to be so, even if they be not so in reality, the mares will be constantly trying to leap them, or force their way through them, and bad, perhaps fatal, accidents will be occurring. It is a far better plan to have the fences made, at least at the upper part, of open work, so that the animals in two adjacent lots may be able to see one another and communicate, without being able to get at each other,—as when so situated they will be constantly gently trotting to and fro in order to find a method of getting together, which will keep them in proper exercise,—than to confine two or more mares in the same lot or enclosure, as in that case they will be apt, in play and rivalry, to extend themselves too much in their speed, and over-exert themselves. An acre is ample space for such an enclosure, and it should be provided with a good comfortable hut or porch for shade in summer and warmth in winter, the doorway of which ought not to be less than five feet in width and eight in height, with the angles of the door-posts and lintels rounded off in order to prevent the hips from being injured as the animal passes rapidly and impetuously in and out, or from the poll, being injured by the throwing up the head suddenly and striking the sharp edge of the lintel.
The food of the mare during her gestation should be liberal, generous and nutritious, without heating; for it is to be remembered that during this time the female has to
