the female of the horse kind. See the article EQUUS.

Before a mare is covered, she should be in the house about six weeks, during which time she should be well fed with good hay and oats well sifted; and in order to render her conception the more certain, near a quart of blood may be taken from each side of her neck, about five or six days before covering. Another method to bring a mare in season and make her retain, is to give her, for the space of eight days before you bring her to the horse, about two quarts of hemp-feed in the morning, and as much at night; and if she refuses to eat it, to mingle it with a little bran or oats, or else to let her fast for a while; and if the stallion also eat of it, it will greatly contribute to generation.

Mares go with foal 11 months, and as many days...