CHAPTER V. 

 THE TEEATMENT OF FOALS. 



The time elapsing between the foaling and the foal 

 gaining its feet and retaining them varies from thirty 

 minutes to one hour and a half. In practice, it will be 

 found that the medium-sized foal will be up in half the 

 time taken by the big sprawling one. In either case, 

 " masterly inactivity " should be the attendant's motto; he 

 should not interfere till his judgment tells him that assist- 

 ance is imperative. Many grooms, doubtless with the best 

 intentions in the world, seem imbued with the idea that at 

 foaling time their duty lies in giving Nature help at every 

 phase of functions which are the very acme of simplicity and 

 efficiency. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that in the 

 case of the mare foaling without any complications, the 

 man who had never seen a mare foal, and who was an 

 interested but passive spectator through some convenient 

 peep-hole, would have done better work than the officious 

 veteran who felt impelled to give premature help at every 

 stage of the event. The following pen pictures will illus- 

 trate the point. 



" Peeping Tom," from his hiding place, would see the 

 new born foal floundering and ploughing through the straw 

 in futile efforts to get on to its wobbly legs. After many 

 failures, and when lungs, muscles, and tendons had by these 

 gymnastics been sufficiently developed, he would at last 

 struggle on to his feet, and with legs stretched wide apart, 

 stand swaying backwards and forwards in a desperate effort 



