188 THE HORSE 



clovers ans\A'er well ; and, after the}^ are done, carrots form an excellenl 

 succedaneum, given sliced in a bran mash every night. By adopting these 

 articles of food, the mare is kept free from inflammation, and yet the foal is 

 well nourished, which are the two essential points to be considered. 



Excitement of every kind is a fertile source of " slipping " the foal ; 

 and everything which is at all likely to have that eifect should be carefully 

 avoided. The smell of blood is said to have a very prejudicial influence in 

 this way ; and there is no doubt that one mare miscarrying will in some 

 mode affect others in proximity to her. Possibly the same cause may act on 

 all ; but it seems to be generally concluded that the act is really contagious,^ 

 either from what is called sympath}^, or in some other as inexplicable way. 

 If a mare has " slipped " a foal in a previous pregnancy, double care should 

 be taken, as she will be far more likely to do so again than another which 

 has hitherto escaped the accident. It occurs most frequently about the 

 fourth or fifth month, therefore extra care should be taken at that time. 

 The suspected individual should be kept quiet by hei'self ; but it is better 

 to allow her the run of a small retired paddock than to confine her to her 

 hovel, where, for want of exercise, she will become restless and anxious. 

 Purging physic should not be given, unless it is absolutely necessary ; and if 

 the bowels are so confined as to require some stimulus of this kind, and 

 bran mashes and other changes in the food fail to produce any effect, choice 

 should be made of the mildest aperient which is likely to answer the 

 purpose. With regard to the management of the mare in parturition, if 

 assistance is demanded, it is safer to have recourse at once to a properly 

 educated veterinary surgeon. Stud-grooms who have had much experience 

 will sometimes be able to aid Nature with advantage ; but, in the long run, 

 they will probably do more harm than good, if they attempt any serious 

 interference. 



TREATMENT AFTER FOALING 



In a healthy state, the mare very soon recovers the efforts which she 

 has made in bringing forth the foal ; and, in fine weathei', she may be 

 allowed to enter her paddock on the second day afterwards, which is 

 generally soon enough to suit the strength of the foal, though occasionally 

 the young animal is very active within six hours after it comes into the 

 world. For a couple of months, or perhaps less in some cases, the mare 

 and foal are better kept in a paddock by themselves ; but in a large stud 

 this is difficult when the foals come very quickly ; and then several mares 

 of quiet temperament are put together, still keeping separate those which 

 are shy or vicious. Until the mare can get plenty of grass, she should 

 liave carrots, bran mashes, and a feed or two of oats, which at first are 

 better given in the shape of gruel — the water with which this is made 

 having the chill taken off. Rye-grass is cultivated and cut for the mares 

 daily by those who have early foals ; but, though it is better than hay, it is 

 not equal to good upland clover-grass. Lucerne is excellent, but it cannot 

 be grown so early as rye. I have already described, at page 187, the proper 



^ Recent investigations leave no doubt of the fact tliat abortion is contagious among 

 bovines, and it may well be supposed that the same is the case among mnres. 



