HORSES 53 



mares is not to be recommended, as their off- 

 spring are usually small and enfeebled. . 



Mares in foal should be kept at moderate 

 work till within a few weeks of foaling, but no 

 hard work should be performed, such as back- 

 ing, which strains the abdomen too much. Too 

 severe exertion, or bad food, may cause a mare 

 to abort. A little linseed or Barbadoes aloes 

 before foaling keeps the mare's bowels open, 

 and bran mashes bring up the milk if she is 

 likely to be a poor milker. Foaling should 

 take place in a clean, disinfected loose box ; 

 someone should be in constant attendance, as 

 any difficulty in giving birth may be serious for 

 both mother and foal if no help be available. 



For five to six weeks after foaling the mare 

 and her foal should run loose on short, sweet 

 grass. After this the mare must resume her 

 work, the foal being put in a loose box, and the 

 mare allowed to see it every two hours, so that 

 the foal can get its mother's milk frequently ; 

 long waits being productive of scour in the 

 youngster. The foal will now soon learn to eat 

 if some finely-broken linseed cake be left in its 

 box. When about four months old the foal is 

 gradually weaned, and is then put in a straw- 



