' . BREEDING, STOCK-RAISING, ETC. 447 



Another consideration of importance is the amount of 

 labor the mare may perform. It is better for her to do light 

 work, at least up to within seven or eight weeks of foaling, 

 at which time she should be relieved of all service, unless it 

 be some occasional mild exercise. She should, also, about 

 this time, be removed from other animals, that she may not 

 be injured by them. At no period should she be assigned 

 any very hard labor, or be subjected to severe strains. As 

 she nears the time of foaling, she should be kept where she 

 can be easily watched, so that if any difficulty arises during 

 parturition assistance may be rendered promptly. 



During the time of suckling, the mare should receive the 

 best of attention. Her food should be 

 generous, wholesome, and abundant. 

 It should never escape the mind of her 

 keeper that she now has two lives to 

 support^ and the tax upon her which 

 the colt's necessities occasion is very 

 great. Occasionally, a bran- mash may 

 be given — rye-bran, if it can be obtained ; and at all times 

 plenty of chopped feed, good sweet hay, and oats will be 

 just .the diet for her. But abstain from feeding her any 

 corn. If pasture can be procured, she will do better on this 

 than upon any thing else. As feeding the mare is feeding 

 the colt also, nothing should be allowed her that can injure 

 the latter, as some articles of food or medicine may do 

 without seriously affecting the stronger organism of the 

 mother. 



After thirty days, if she is again in season, the mare may 

 once more be put to the horse, if the owner is determined 

 to have her bring a colt every year. But to this there is 

 a grave objection. In all of the animal creation, a state 

 of pregnancy injuriously affects the character of the milk 

 afforded the suckling offspring. Better colts can be raised 

 by breeding the mare only every second year. 



The labor of the mother should be quite light, beginning 

 not before a month or six weeks after foaling. Except for 



