644 Reading-Course for Farmers. 



sexual excitement at the most active stage of heat is often responsible 

 for the mare not conceiving. In addition to these, there is a long line 

 of causes of barrenness in mares over which the breeder has little or no 

 control, such as derangement of the female organs, diseased ovaries, 

 tumors and the like. 



Causes of abortion in snares 



Abortion is the expulsion of the foetus at any period from the date 

 of impregnation until the foal can survive out of the womb. It is pro- 

 duced by any cause operating to disconnect the union of the foetal 

 membrane with the uterus. The mare may abort by reason of almost 

 any cause that very generally disturbs her system, as the influence of 

 too stimulating a diet or the reverse, wet seasons, a previous miscarriage, 

 and all circumstances opposed to efficient nutrition and respiration. 

 The more direct mechanical causes are falls, blows, violent exertion, 

 severe illness, large draughts of cold water or eating iced grass, ergot 

 of rye, the smut of corn or other grain, and drinking filthy stagnant 

 water; also, traveling on heavy muddy roads, soft plowed ground, or 

 jumping over fences, ditches, and the like.. 



The prevention of abortion is the avoidance of all causes which 

 may have a tendency to produce it. When abortion has once occurred, 

 the greatest care in subsequent management is necessary. The breeder 

 must avoid all causes of constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and the like. 

 When all measures fail and miscarriage results, all that can be done 

 is to assist in the removal of the foetus and its membranes as in ordinary 

 parturitions. The mare should have extra care at this time. She 

 should have a roomy, well-lighted stall, with plenty of air and easily 

 digested food. The mare should not be served again for a month or 

 longer, and in no case till after all discharges from the vulva have ceased. 



The pregnant mare 



The management of the pregnant mare should have for its object the 

 feeding of such a ration as will supply her demands for energy, and in 

 addition allow ample nourishment for the development of the foal, 

 both before and for a short time after birth, together with such a regula- 

 tion of the work as will protect the mare from becoming tired, over- 

 heated or injured in any way. Moderate work is not only harm- 

 less, but positively advantageous to mares in foal, provided proper 

 care be taken not to overload them. It is much better than to keep 

 them tied in the stable, for in that case they suffer for want of exercise, 

 or to permit them to run at large in the fields with other horses where 



