Feeding the Horse. 691 



case if grains possessing only the requisite nutrients were supplied. 

 If the protected area is kept dry and well bedded the horse can be com- 

 fortably wintered in this way at much less expense than by stabling. 

 Light grain feeding, together with some work, should begin six weeks 

 before the spring work starts, to put the horse in condition for the 

 spring work. 



Feeding the brood mare 



Many farmers are so situated that they may raise a team of colts 

 each year without seriously interfering with farm operations. This is 

 a good practice, as there is a demand for good horses for both city and 

 farm use. A team of mares in foal can be worked until the day of 

 foaling if the work is not too severe and the driver careful. In fact, 

 moderate exercise is necessary for the mare in foal. Idleness is the 

 bane of horse-rearing and shotild be avoided whenever possible. The 

 Arabs have a saying, "Rest and fat are the greatest enemies of the horse." 

 Mares in foal should be fed much as suggested for work horses with 

 perhaps the addition of more protein foods, as bran and oil meal, as 

 such foods, rich in protein and mineral matter, are valuable for mares 

 carrying young foals. If the mare is constipative, bran mash may 

 be given occasionally. Through the use of proper foods the bowels 

 should be kept in good condition and should be a little loose rather 

 than othen;\ise at the time of the parturition. While the mare may be 

 worked up to the time of foaling, she should be given a few days rest 

 after foaling to enable her to gain her strength and give the foal the 

 proper start. For the first few days of recuperation, a hot bran mash 

 fed once a day has both a cooling and a laxative effect on the mare 

 which are very beneficial. If all has gone well with the mare and foal, 

 the mare may be put to work at the end of one week from the time of 

 parturition. Some dams, especially those with their first foals, fail to 

 supply the proper amount of milk and the young foals do not thrive. 

 In this case the mare should be provided with food which stimulates the 

 milk flow. Good pasture grass is best, of course, but oats or wheat 

 bran with an occasional bran mash will often prove beneficial. If there 

 is an over-supply of milk, or if the milk is too rich, the food may be 

 restricted. 



Feeding the Joal 



Very soon after birth, the foal should take a good draught of the 

 colostrum or first milk of the dam. Colostrum milk possesses purgative 

 qualities which tend to discharge from the alimentary tract the fecal 



