BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT. 10| 



for putting the mare to the horse is from March to the begin- 

 ning of May ; colts foaled in March are generally found to turn 

 out hardier, and to stand better, than those foaled earlier. 



From the time of covering to within a few days of the ex- 

 pected period of foaling, the cart-mare may be kept at moderate 

 labor not only without injury, but with decided advantage. 

 She should then be released from work and kept near home 

 under the frequent inspection of some careful person. When 

 nearly half the time of pregnancy has elapsed, she should have 

 a little better food, being allowed one or two feeds of grain in 

 the day. As this is about the time when they are accustomed 

 to slink their foals, or when abortion occurs, the owner's eye 

 should be frequently upon her. Good feeding and moderate 

 exercise are the best preventives of this mischance. As the 

 mare that has once slunk her foal is liable to a repetition of 

 this accident, she should never be suffered to be with other 

 mares between the fourth and fifth months ; for so great is the 

 power of sympathy or imagination in the mare that if one 

 suffers abortion, others in the same pasture will too often share 

 the same fate. Farmers frequently suppose that such mishaps 

 originate from some infection ; and many wash and paint and 

 tar their stables to prevent an infection that really lies in the 

 imagination. 



The period of pregnancy varies from forty-four to fifty-six 

 weeks, but it is usually from forty-seven to fifty. If the mare, 

 whether of pure or common breed, be cared for as suggested 

 above, and be in good health while in foal, little danger will 

 attend the act of giving birth to the young. Should there be, 

 however, false presentation of the foetus, or any difficulty in pro- 

 ducing it, recourse should be had to a well-informed veterinary 



