148 The Management of Light Horses 



is visited. Many a good foal has been lost through the neglect 

 of these very necessary precautions. 



If the mare does not require much of the attendant's care, the 

 foal calls for his attention, but it would be as well to point out, to 

 begin with, that it is essential that he should be careful and steady. 

 A fussy, excitable man is just as likely to do wrong as right; and 

 he should bear in mind that he is there to help and not to hinder. 

 Your fussy man will lose his ligatures amongst the straw, and will 

 not remember where he has put his scissors until they remind him 

 by pricking him. 



The first thing a groom has to do when the mare is delivered 

 is to see that the enveloping membrane which covers the foetus 

 is broken. This he can easily do with his fingers if necessary. 

 If it is left undone for long the foal may very easily be smothered 

 Then it often happens that the umbilical cord is unbroken; and 

 perhaps it is better for the foal when this is the case. There is no 

 necessity to get into a bad hurry. The first thing to do is to bind 

 a catgut ligature very tightly round the umbilical cord, about 

 I or 1 1 in. below the foal's belly. Then tie another ligature 

 3 in. lower down, and cut the cord between the two with a pair 

 of sharp scissors, and when this is done, wash the stump on the 

 foal with a disinfectant. The foal will now be free from the mare, 

 and may be pulled round under her nose so that she may lick it 

 freely. Care, of course, should be taken to put the back of the foal 

 next the mare, for it would never do for her to lick the disinfectant 

 off the navel. I would point out here that the greatest importance 

 is attached to getting the navel properly dressed as soon as pos- 

 sible, as it is a fertile source of mischief, and is remarkably sensitive 

 to infection. The mare may now be left engaged in licking her 

 foal, and if she continues lying down, which most mares will if 

 matters have been skilfully managed, she will recuperate all the 

 more quickly. 



One thing must not be forgotten. The mare, when her labour 

 commences, and for some little time afterwards, is in a violent per- 

 spiration, and it may have been advisable to increase the ordinary 

 ventilation of the box. But she soon cools down, and care must 

 be taken that no windows are left open which may cause a chill. 

 The nights are frequently very cold in the foaling season, and 

 a moment's forgetfulness may have serious and even lasting 

 consequences. 



If the mare and her newly-born offspring are left to themselves 

 for a time, it does not mean that they should not be under the 

 eye of the attendant, who should carefully watch all that takes 



