I 1 2 Management and Feeding of Heavy Horses 



will soon become friendly, and will do better than if grazing alone 

 or in the company of some wicked colts. Hackney or pony colts 

 should not be allowed in the same field; they are too active and 

 excitable for the heavy mare. 



Mares run out like this are more likely to have a happy foaling 

 time than if shut up in a close stable all the winter. Even if they 

 foal in the snow, the foal will take no harm if the mare has been 

 accustomed to such conditions previously. Of course in the hard 

 weather of winter the mare should have some extra feed ; a little 

 hay and a few pounds of oats given daily in a crib on the field will 

 serve the purpose, and prevent her sinking in condition; her feet 

 also should be watched and kept in form. Sometimes gravel 

 causes trouble in the feet when going without shoes. 



If the mare is required to help with the work of the farm, she 

 should not be allowed to overstrain herself by hard pulling, neither 

 should she be allowed to do any heavy shafting. If two mares are 

 in foal, and will work together, it is a good arrangement to put 

 them in charge of a careful ploughman, and keep them working on 

 the land — ploughing and harrowing — and to let the other horses 

 do the carting, rolling, and heavy cultivating. Working the land, if 

 not too steep, is just the right sort of exercise for the in-foal mare, 

 and she may be kept at it quietly up to the time of foaling, and 

 will be quite as likely to have a good foaling time as if she were 

 doing no work. Even in harvest time they may help a little, if not 

 put to shafting or kept too long without food. 



The mares may be fed the same as the other farm horses until 

 Christmas, when a little more liberality may be advisable. The 

 extra food should be given in the shape of bran mash daily. There 

 is a considerable amount of nourishment in bran, and it keeps the 

 bowels open and the mare in good health. It is well suited for 

 mares as they approach foaling, especially when there is no grass 

 and corn has to be used. 



As foaling time approaches the mare must be allowed the use 

 of a loose box for her night quarters. This box must be roomy, 

 not less than 12 by 12 ft, so that she can turn about and lie 

 comfortably, and there should be no projections that might cause 

 injury to the mare or the foal. 



Some simple arrangement should be devised by which the 

 attendant can look in without opening the door or disturbing the 

 mare. It is well to have the mare accustomed to the box some 

 time before foaling, so that she may feel quite at home in it; but 

 previous to turning her in the box should be thoroughly well 

 cleaned, lime-washed, and disinfected with a strong solution of 



