270 



BREEDING 



and acted upon, so as to be prepared for the birth of the foal; and when 

 the event is imminent, a visit should be paid to the mare frequently by 

 night and by day. 



Birth of the foal, when all things are favourable, takes place very 

 rapidly, and in the great majority of cases the mare requires no assistance. 

 When the labour pains come on, and she begins to strain energetically, 

 rthe foal is propelled backwards, with the fore-legs leading, and the head 

 between them. These soon appear externally, usually surrounded by the 

 membranes and the fluid contained in them. A few more strains and the 



Fig. 545. Natural Presentation 



membranes are ruptured, when the foal glides gently down over the mare's 

 hocks, if she is standing which is generally the case and falls softly on 

 to the ground; the navel-string (umbilical cord) is nearly always torn 

 through during this descent of the foal. 



The mare, soon after its birth, cleans the foal by licking it all over, and 

 when this is done it is well to offer her a bucket of warm oatmeal or linseed 

 gruel, and some bran mash, but otherwise she ought to be interfered with 

 as little as possible. In some instances the mare refuses to have anything 

 to do with the foal, and even becomes aggressive towards it. In such cases 

 it has been recommended to sprinkle the foal's back with flour, as an 

 inducement for the dam to lick this off, and so to become attached to her 

 progeny. 



The expulsion of the membranes, or " after-birth ", sometimes takes 



