50 The Practical Stud Groom. 



case of an abnormally thick navel-cord, the severe drag 

 which would ensue before the weight of the foal ruptured 

 the cord would be highly conducive to an umbilical hernia. 

 In effect, the author's experience has been, that in health 

 the mare lies down to foal, in debility she stands up. Pro- 

 fessor Axe's experience would seem to have been exactly the 

 reverse. 



THE NEW-BORN FOAL. 



The newly-born foal will at once commence struggling 

 and sprawling about the box, thereby developing strength 

 in its muscles, ligaments, lungs and other organs, prepara- 

 tory to struggling to its feet and looking for its supper. If 

 the mare will lie quietly watching its futile efforts while 

 she gains strength, and the generative organs and blood 

 vessels recover from the great strain they have undergone, 

 so much the better. With this end in view, avoid entering 

 the box unless absolutely compelled so to do. If the foal in 

 its sprawling gets wedged into a corner of the box, where 

 it is helpless, it must, of course, be hauled out. If on the 

 other hand it should become entangled amongst the recum- 

 bent mare's legs, ninety-nine times out of a hundred it is 

 wisest not to interfere. Even in the young mare the 

 maternal care and instinct are wonderful ; she will either lie 

 quite passive till her offspring flounders out of danger, or 

 deftly get up and avoid treading on it in a miraculous 

 manner. If the over-anxious attendant, thinking to assist, 

 enters the box, the chances are the mare, mistaking his 

 kindly motives, will scramble hurriedly to her feet, thus 

 causing the accident which almost certainly would not have 

 occurred had he preserved a " masterly inactivity." 



On the same principle, do not enter the box and worry 

 the mare with water or mash so long as she will lie quietly 



