After-Management of Mares. 41 



before the expiration of a month from the time of foal- 

 ing, when, if she is principally kept for breeding pur- 

 poses, she may be put again to the horse. At the 

 same time, also, if she is used for agricultural purposes, 

 she may go again to work. The foal is at first shut in 

 the stable during the hours of work ; but as soon as it 

 acquires sufficient strength to toddle after the mare, 

 and especially when she is at slow work, it will be 

 better for the foal and the dam that they should be to- 

 gether. The work will contribute to the health of the 

 mother ; the foal will more frequently draw the milk, 

 and thrive better, and will be hardy and tractable, and 

 gradually familiarized with the objects among which it 

 is afterwards to live. While the mother, however, is 

 thus worked, she and the foal should be well fed ; and 

 two feeds of corn, at least, should be added to the 

 green food which they get when turned out after their 

 work, and at night. 



In four* or six months, according to the growth of 

 the foal, it may be weaned, and the mother should be 

 put to harder work, and have drier food. One or two 

 urine-balls, or a physic ball, would be useful in the milk, 

 should she be troublesome or pine after the foal. 



Mares frequently produce colts, at fourteen and 

 fifteen years of age, and sometimes twenty. Experience 

 has proved that from six to twelve, is the most valu- 

 able part of a mare's life for raising colts. They are fre. 

 quently incapacitated by breeding too young. 



