Foaling Time. 41 



Three useful auxiliaries to the above list are a snaffle bridle, 

 a twitch, and a long web lungeing rein. (See Note on p. 56.) 



The usual symptoms of approaching labour are that the 

 mare shows excitement, pacing uneasily round and round the 

 foaling box, breaks into a profuse perspiration, paws the 

 ground, gazes round at her flank, lies down and gets up 

 again repeatedly, and passes small quantities of urine. Care 

 should be taken to regulate the ventilation while the mare is 

 perspiring and in a heated state. After she has foaled and 

 is lying quietly, she will cool off very quickly, and the cold 

 night air rushing through an open window or ventilator 

 might easily cause a chill, developing into pneumonia and 

 other kindred ailments. When the unmistakable symptoms 

 of the near approach of parturition appear it is well to pre- 

 pare a mash for the use of the mare later on. Take three 

 pounds of bran, a double handful of crushed oats, into which 

 thoroughly mix a table-spoonful of bi-carbonate of soda. 

 Pour sufficient boiling water on this to make it nicely moist 

 but not sloppy, cover up and let stand till required. The 

 use of the bi-carbonate of soda is recommended because of 

 its beneficial effects on the mare's inflamed mucous mem- 

 branes, and as a curative and preventative of diarrhoea in 

 the foal, through its action on the mucous membrane of the 

 intestines. 



Some mares, especially those of the Galopin tribe, 

 exhibit great excitement hours before actual labour begins ; 

 others make no sign till within half an hour of parturition. 

 One exceptional case noted by the author was that of a 

 daughter of Galopin, who paced rapidly round the foaling 

 box, with only the briefest pauses, during the whole of one 

 night and following day. The second night was far spent 

 before labour pains commenced, and the foal was delivered 

 in about ten minutes. The mare must have walked many 



