THE DAM. .147 



work, in the team and on the road, from the time they 

 are stinted to the horse until within a month or six 

 weeks of foahng. This keeps them healthy and strong, 

 and prevents them from laying on fat. A mare should 

 be kept in an active, muscular condition during preg- 

 nancy. The question is asked, whether it is wise to 

 speed a brood-mare when in foal. I hold it is, provided 

 it be done with caution. An occasional spurt of fifty 

 rods or so does them good : it keeps their mood right ; 

 that is, vivacious, sprightly, and full of healthy anima- 

 tion. This mood they impart to the foal. The mater- 

 nal disposition and spirit are impressed upon it ; for the 

 mental state of the dam does have, beyond doubt, a vast 

 influence upon the nervous organization of the foal. As 

 the time of foaling approaches, let the mare rest. Exer- 

 cise her only to the halter, if at all. Remove her from 

 the narrow stall to the " foaling-room." This should be 

 at least twelve by fifteen feet in size. The floor should 

 be perfectly level, — this is essential, — in which she 

 should have her liberty. Give her plenty of clean, dry 

 bedding. If she is a gross feeder, and is inclined to stuff 

 herself with it, put on a muzzle : an ordinary wire ox- 

 muzzle will answer. As the day approaches on which 

 the long-anticipated event is to occur, do not feed very 

 high : especially reduce the amount of hay she is accus- 

 tomed to have by one-half Feed with dry food, lest 

 milk be produced too fast. If this be the case, and her 

 bag cakes, wash it in cold water in which a quart of 

 Indian meal has been soaked. This wash will reduce 



