51 



fatal consequences may soon follow. Castor oil may 

 be given with advantage, and mild injections admin- 

 istered, which will generally have the desired effect. 

 Any difficulty with the urine is a very serious 

 matter, and very little can be done to young foals 

 beyond covering their backs over with steaming 

 rugs in order to keep them warm. The penis of 

 colt foals is sometimes doubled back in the sheath, 

 but this is easily remedied by inserting the finger, 

 well-oiled, and bringing it forward to its natural 

 position. 



WEANING FOALS. 



Foals may be weaned when they are from six- 

 teen to twenty weeks old, according to circumstances. 

 The termination of their sucking period will depend 

 much upon whether the mares are required to work. 

 If they are only kept for breeding purposes the foals 

 may be allowed to run longer with them. A number 

 of brood mares, however, are worked in the regular 

 yokes of the farm, and are taken in during September 

 for harvesting operations, when the foals should be 

 taken off. 



A little milk should be drawn from the mares 

 daily for a week after the foals are taken off, and 

 in this way it will gradually leave them without injury 

 or inconvenience. 



Foals should be confined in an airy loose-box 

 for a week, and tares and hay, with a little corn 

 and plenty of fresh water should be given them. 



