MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 91 



CHAPTEH XIX. 



MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 



Ix-FOAL mares which are worked have to meet both the cle- 

 maiids entailed upon them by performing their work and the 

 requirements of the developing foal within them. It is there- 

 fore necessary that they should be fed liberally on nourishing 

 food, and an extra allowance of corn in addition to their ordi- 

 nary ration should be provided. Should the in-foal mare be 

 turned out to grass, no food in addition to the grazing is re- 

 quired if the pasture is in good condition. During the first six 

 months or so of the period of gestation, no special treatment 

 of in-foal mares is called for, beyond seeing that they are 

 liberally fed. As the mares advance in pregnancy, and become 

 heavy in foal, they must be treated with special care and con- 

 sideration, in order to prevent the occurrence of abortion or 

 |)remature slipping of the foetus. In leading a pregnant mare 

 in or out of the stable, care must be taken that she does not 

 knock up against the door-posts with her belly, and accidental 

 blows on the abdomen must be guarded against as much as 

 possible. 



Working: Brood Mares — Both heavy and light mares 

 can be worked regularly up to within a short time of the date 

 of foaling, but tlie work must not be too severe during the 

 second half of the period of gestation. The nearer 

 tlie date of foaling approaches, the nmre considerately must 

 the mare be treated when at work. A heavy in-foal mare 

 should not be galloped, nor driven at a very fast pace. Nor 

 should she be asked to pull a very heavy weight, especially up 

 hill ; neither must she be called upon to ])ack a farm cart or 

 waggon when heavily laden, or to hold these vehicles up when 



