228 Common Diseases of the Horse 



and in the case of a first foal, an increase in the size of the udder, 

 and prominence of the teats. At the 7th month definite evidence 

 is at hand in the presence of the foetus in the belly. This may 

 be discovered in several ways, viz. by passing the well-oiled arm 

 into the rectum as far as it will go, when the various parts of the 

 foetus may be examined, and its movements felt. " Knocking the 

 foal " from the outside is another method. This is done by the 

 observer standing at the side of the mare, facing her hind quarters, 

 with his left hand on her back and his right at the bottom of the 

 left flank, about a hand's breadth in front, and on a level with 

 the stifle. In this position a solid body will be found, which, when 

 pushed, will recede, but return again and hit the hand in a second 

 or so. 



At a later period the movements of the foal can frequently be 

 seen by the careful observer when the mare is at rest, but sometimes 

 they are so slight as to be unobservable. In the latter case it is a 

 common custom to give the mare a drink of cold water, the theory 

 being that the shock will cause the foal to move. There is no 

 harm in this method if the mare has been habitually drinking cold 

 water, but if, as is very frequently the case, she is overheated, made 

 thirsty, and then given a large drink, danger of abortion or " picking 

 the foal " may arise. Another oldfashioned and useless method to 

 determine the presence of a foal is to pour cold water into the mare's 

 ear. It is said that when pregnant she will shake her head only, so 

 as not to disturb the foal ; but if not, the whole body will be shaken, 

 on the supposition that as no foal is present no harm can ensue. 



Feeding and Exercise During Pregnancy 



During pregnancy the mare may with advantage be kept under 

 ordinary conditions, as so doing will go a long way to ensure a 

 natural and easy foaling. As far as feeding is concerned, she may 

 be kept on an ordinary diet, so long as it does not include a large 

 quantity of maize, until a few weeks before her time is up, when 

 the diet should be light and laxative. Bran and oats, the latter 

 macerated in cold water for twelve hours without being crushed, 

 and chopped hay, make an excellent and easily -digested diet. 

 Mares kept entirely for breeding purposes, and which are not 

 worked at all, may be allowed to remain at grass until a few days 

 before they are due. If the pasture is good and abundant they 

 will require little more, or in any case a small quantity of bran and 

 steeped oats will suffice. Work may be continued right up to 

 foaling time, so long as care is taken that it is not of a strenuous 



