58 The Practical Stud G?*oom. 



to retain his balance, and escape an involuntary header into 

 the straw. The first attempt to bring one of the out- 

 stretched legs under him would probably result in disaster, 

 and he would be laid low. After a brief respite to obtain 

 his wind and perhaps consider the matter, he would once 

 more regain his feet, and, command of his muscles increas- 

 ing every moment, would presently find himself capable of 

 locomotion. Throughout his plucky efforts the mare has 

 anxiously followed his devious career, licking and drying 

 his wet body, and showing her maternal solicitude. Now 

 she insinuates herself alongside her foal, still industriously 

 plying her tongue. The foal, nosing about, suddenly 

 touches her warm body. Instinctively his lips pucker up, 

 his tongue tip curls, and he sucks, and sucks, and sucks, 

 her knees, chest, neck, belly, hocks all are explored, while 

 she stands patiently awaiting the moment when at last the 

 baby lips encounter the projecting teat. Then the tongue 

 curls round it, and a tell-tale gurgling sound in his throat 

 proclaims that he has " struck ile " at last. It may here be 

 noted that the word " oil " is not inappropriate to the situa- 

 tion, as by a wise provision of Nature this first-drawn milk 

 of the mare contains a laxative principle (calostrum), which 

 sets the foal's bowels in motion, and clears them of the 

 accumulated foeces or dung. 



Our other picture shows the officious attendant watch- 

 ing the foal's futile attempts to get on to its feet. Not 

 realising that these struggles are faithfully fulfilling their 

 part in Nature's pre-arranged plans, he feels it incumbent 

 on him to lend a hand. This he proceeds to do, only to dis- 

 cover, when, after the expenditure of much exertion, he 

 succeeds in getting the foal on to its feet, that its legs are 

 unable to support the weight of its body, and double up 

 under it. The attendant's arms grow tired of the weight 



