BREEDING. 337 



rence, and this does not happen from any disease or infec- 

 tion, as many have erroneously supposed, but from sympathy. 

 But how this circumstance has such an eflPect upon the 

 imagination — if I may be allowed the expression — it is not 

 easy to explain ; yet it has too frequently happened to admit 

 of a doubt. It is therefore evident that as soon as such a 

 circumstance occurs, other mares that may be in the same 

 field should be removed to another pasture. 



If mares are in good health while in foal, there is little 

 danger of any mischance during parturition ; but should 

 any such occur, either as regards a difficulty in parting with 

 the foal or a wrong presentation, recourse must instantly 

 be had to a regular experienced veterinary surgeon, who, 

 from practice, is most likely to afibrd the necessary relief, 

 and will save the sufiering animal pain, and frequently save 

 her life. Many fine mares have been lost, or rendered 

 useless, by unskilful persons attempting to afibrd relief. 



It would be absurd in a limited treatise to attempt 

 laying down rules for enabling persons to perform those 

 duties successfully, which can only be acquired by a length- 

 ened course of study ; and which, consequently, would far 

 exceed our limits. Mares generally come in heat about a 

 month or six weeks after foaling. 



Whenever parturition has been accomplished, the mare 

 with her foal should be turned out into a pasture, which 

 ought always to have a shed to retire to for shelter. If this 

 happens to be early in the spring, that is, in April, before 

 the grass has become sufficiently plentiful, then the mare 

 should be supplied with one or two feeds of oats daily ; 

 otherwise she will be unable to supply the foal with a 

 sufficiency of milk, a lack of which is sure to lay the 

 foundation of weakness, and in all probability arrest his 

 growth, as this is the most important time in the life of a 



2 X 



