152 The Management of Light Horses 



the desired effect, a mild clyster may be administered. Occasion- 

 ally the diarrhoea is merely a transitory ailment which may dis- 

 appear without any treatment. It must, however, be carefully 

 watched. A dose of castor oil in a little gruel may be given, and 

 then small doses of bicarbonate of soda with a few drops of tincture 

 of iron, or if there be straining or evidence of pain, a few drops of 

 laudanum may be given; but in obstinate cases it is as well to have 

 professional advice. 



The mare and foal should be kept in the foaling box for at least 

 a week or ten days, but they should have plenty of exercise every 

 day. If the weather is at all genial, an hour in a dry pasture during 

 the heat of the day is an admirable way of securing this. If the 

 weather is inclement and wet, an opportunity should be taken to 

 walk the mare and her foal out for a short time, choosing a place 

 sheltered from the wind if possible. I am no advocate for " codd- 

 ling" young horses. It is a plan which will assuredly bring with it 

 delicacy and all its attendant evils. But the brood mare and her 

 foal should be gradually hardened off, and certainly in ordinary 

 spring weather they should not be turned out till the foal is three 

 or four weeks old. If the weather is favourable they may be turned 

 out earlier, especially if the foal is strong and healthy. Some 

 people advocate a hovel in the field, but horses when they get 

 hardened off can stand a lot of inclement weather, and it is no 

 uncommon thing to see mares and foals grazing contentedly in the 

 pouring rain without taking any notice of the hovel erected for 

 their especial benefit. The grease which accumulates in their coats 

 is a capital protection against ordinary cold. 



The food of the mare should be plentiful. She should have the 

 best of hay, bruised oats and bran, and a mash at least once a day. 

 The latter will be all the better for having a little treacle mixed in 

 it. Of course when she is turned out to grass altogether there is no 

 need for the mash, and the hay may also be dropped; but if she is 

 a very good mare, and the foal is a very good one, it may be advis- 

 able to continue the corn ration, especially if the mare and foal are 

 good enough to show. The owner, however, is the best judge of 

 the expediency of this, and it is a subject on which it is not advis- 

 able to lay down any definite instructions. 



In turning a mare and foal out care should be taken to put them 

 in a quiet pasture; and on a change of pasture, or a change of food, 

 the foal should be carefully watched lest diarrhoea should set in. 



" Now, my lads, it's a nice fine night, let us go and handle these 

 foals a bit," I have many a time heard a foreman say to the younger 

 lads on the farm, and away they would all go, eager for the tun, 



