The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



projected. Still the shrouded foal is sur- 

 prisingly quiet, apparently comatose for the 

 time being ; but the mare's greatest effort is 

 to come when the massive bulk of shoulders 

 and chest are to be thrust forth. It is good 

 to be here, for in this great effort you can 

 assist most materially to save her the strain and 

 its pains. It begins. Seize the legs of the 

 foal and pull hard. With a strange elastic 

 resistance, the form of the little creature 

 emerges, and, as that wonderful umbilical 

 cord is severed and he begins his independent 

 existence, the shock startles him into con- 

 sciousness. He throws out his head, strikes 

 out with his forelegs, the enclosing membrane 

 is broken and he takes his first breath. He 

 lies on the grass panting and gasping.* 



The mare lies collapsed, and for a while, is 

 whoUy unconscious, lost to her troubles and 

 dead to the world. Draw the little fellow 

 along the grass by the forelegs around to his 

 mother's head, so that, when she recovers, 

 her foal may be the first thing she sees. It 

 wiU save her a struggle to rise, and she will 

 be quite content. She will know you have 

 him safely in charge and are there to protect 

 him from enemies of every possible kind. 

 Let her rest all she can. 



* The first and supremely important thing to be done 

 immediately after the birth of a foal, is to tie up and sterilise 

 the umbilical cord. Many foals are lost every year through 

 failure to take this precaution. 



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