11 



illness. Tliey will not be injured by exposure to cold drying winds^ 

 or in frosty weather by being allowed the use of the paddock in the 

 middle of the day ; and if not let out too early in the morning, or 

 kept out too late in the evening, will advance rapidly in growth 

 and strength. 



From the ninth to the twelfth day the mare should be stinted, 

 and. if possible, the same horse as the sire of the foal should be 

 used. 



The food of the mare after foaling should be soft, to increase the 

 lactic secretion ; and, in the absence of green food, which is by far 

 the best, such as is usually given to farm horses, with an allowance 

 of carrot, turnip, and hay, with at least two half-feeds of dry com 

 daily till abundance of green food is obtained. The change from the 

 dry to the soft food should be gradual. It is advisable not to put 

 the mare upon grass previous to foaling. 



The milk of the mare has always a decided influence over the 

 foal, and will produce, as she is fed, either a laxative or constipated 

 state of bowels. If fed highly on corn and hay only, constipation 

 will be the result to the foal, and if, on the contrary, with too many 

 vegetables of a laxative kind, looseness will follow. It will, there- 

 fore, be necessary to regulate the food of the mare accordingly, 

 without being obliged to adminster physic to the foal, which should 

 not be done unless a very feverish state of body requires it ; a clyster in 

 such cases is the safest and most simple remedy. Should relaxation of 

 the bowels approaching to diarrhoea occur, this may be counteracted 

 by feeding the mare upon dry food only for a day or two, with a few 

 split beans in her corn. In case of eruptions breaking out either 

 upon mare or foal it will be necessary to give sulphur for a day or 

 two in a bran mash ; but during this treatment all exposure to cold 

 or rain must be avoided. Nitre is also an excellent alterative for 

 horses, and can be given either in a ball, or mixed with bran, or 

 dissolved in water. Nitre and sulphur mixed, two parts of the 

 former, with one of the latter, form the best alterative for horses, 

 and which can be given in a bran mash. Sulphur alone is apt to 

 open the pores of the skin too much, and in cold weather may be 

 objectionable. 



The foal will seldom attempt to eat before he is three months old, 

 although some will begin rather sooner than others ; but when once 

 you perceive him able and willing to do so, let him begin his lessons. 

 As soon as the foal shows a disposition to eat com, there should be 

 a low manger appropriated to its own use, apart from that of the 

 mare, and at first some bruised oats with bran may be given. To pre- 



