12 



Tent the mare interfering with the foal, she should have her feed of 

 com at the same time, and be tied up. Two " feeds " a day will be 

 enough for him, which may be divided into three, or not, at pleasure : 

 these should be composed of bruised oats, bran, and linseed cake 

 pounded fine — not linseed meal, which is of too fattening and oily a 

 nature for him. Take care that his dam does not help him to 

 eat it, which is easily prevented by having a bar across the doorway 

 of the hovel, that the foal may go in under it when the mare 

 cannot. When he is six months old, he will require another feed 

 a day. 



The earlier foals are handled the more tractable they will become ; 

 but there is no necessity for a head collar being put on until they are 

 weaned, and then it should not remain on longer than is necessary to 

 accustom him to the use of it. 



As soon as the weather is tolerably warm, about the end of April, 

 the mare and the foal should have the use of a large field, and be 

 taken up in the evening. When the pasturage is plentiful, a feed of 

 corn in the morning before they are turned out, and in the evening 

 when caught up and consigned to their paddock and shed, will be 

 sufficient. It is of no use to feed foals with over quantities of corn 

 at this early period ; all they require is good and nourishing food. 

 Good heavy oats are the most likely to produce muscle ; and the two 

 feeds of these during the summer, and three or four when the 

 autumn commences, and up to the ensuing spring, will be amply suf- 

 ficient to bring any foal up to a proper standard. Foals may be 

 weaned early or late in the autumn, according to their age, the state 

 of their mother and her milk. 



To get a mare into condition for work and to disperse the milk, 

 keep her cool, and on hard food, with an occasional bran mash con- 

 taining an ounce of nitre. Use plenty of walking exercise, but be 

 careful not to put her to hard work till she is quite clear of milk, 

 and able to bear a fair allowance of corn without injury. A mare 

 with her foal only just weaned takes some months to get into con- 

 dition. If this does not answer, give every other day, in a ball, -^-dr. 

 of iodide of iron. It acts as a tonic, and thus invigorates the system, 

 and also causes the secretion of milk to cease. 



CALLOUS LUMPS ON THE LIMBS. 



Blistering with cantharides or the biniodide ointment would be 

 the most likely means, followed by regular bandaging and cold 

 lotions. Try first, however, a lotion composed of sal ammoniac 2oz., 

 water 2qrts. 



