60 HORSE SENSE. 



one week, then the second week, and so on, till the fourth or fifth week, 

 and if she still refuses she is almost certainly in foal. 



TREATMENT OF THE MARE WHILE IN FOAL. 

 The mare in foal should have daily exercise, but not of too exhaust- 

 ive a character, nor too sudden and rapid. If a draft mare, she should 

 not be pulled too hard, and if a trotter, she should not be trotted too far 

 or very fast, after the middle of the term of utero-gestation. But regu- 

 lar exercise is absolutely essential for ihe best results. 



FOOD FOR THE MARE IN FOAL. 



The best food for the mare in foal is bone and muscle making food, 

 such as oats, bran, some corn, a little oil-meal cake and carrots; corn 

 fodder and good hay in small quantities. Concentrated food is the best 

 where there is tendency to relaxation of the bowels. A large quantity 

 of feed given at any time in connection with vigorous exercise, is liable 

 to bring on a miscarriage; oats or flax straw in large quantities may 

 produce diarrhoea, and abortion follow. Regular exercise and good 

 nourishing food in moderate quantities, is always the sure road to suc- 

 cess with the mare in foal. 



PERIOD OF UTERO-GESTATION. 



The mare usually carries her foal about eleven months; but the time 

 will vary so greatly sometimes, as to give room for doubt of all being 

 right with the mare or her foal, yet when we know that the time may be 

 shortened even five weeks, or extended six weeks, it is not best to enter 

 into special interference without there is evident trouble with the mare. 

 Large and slow maturing mares are more liable to carry the foal longer 

 than the close built mares of early maturity; yet this may vary in either 

 case from the character of the food or from some accident that will bring 

 on foaling sooner than otherwise. 



TIME OF FOALING. 



At the time of foaling, the mare should have all her surroundings as 

 quiet and as comfortable as your circumstances will at all permit. 



If the weather is warm and pleasant the paddock or field is the best 

 place; otherwise a good roomy box stall will do very well, in which case 

 it will pay well to keep a close watch of her movements, and as soon as 

 you find that she is in pain, you should stay with her until the foal is on 

 its feet and taking its nourishment properly. 



Don't be officiotis and try to hurry matters along before there is good 

 and sufficient reason for your interference. IMany a good mare and foal 

 has been destroyed by what is called scientific delivery, an ofificious in- 

 terference. Nature will do her work v.'ell, if you have done yours prop- 

 erly in the feed and care of the mare beforehand. Sometimes the foal 

 may be so large and the mare's pelvis so small, that the labor may be 

 prolonged until the mare is very much exhausted, when your help may 

 be a great advantage, both in assistance in delivery and in sustaining 

 the mare afterwards. 



