Care of the Bkood .Mare and Her ('oet 149 



CARE before and AT TIME OF PARTUKITION 



The mare above all tilings should have pleasant and sanitary 

 snrroundinos. She should also have plenty of exercise in the 

 wav of light but continuous work, or the run of a paddock or 

 pasture A large, roomy box stall will suffice where worked 

 dailv. She should not be trotted on hard roads or be used for 

 horseback riding at any time or anywhere. 



In her care three general methods obtain: (1) no work at all 

 ■md pasture all the time possible; (2) light work until two or 

 'three weeks of the supposed foaling time, then the run of a good 

 pasture for ten days; (3) light work until she foals, then ten 

 davs' rest as already indicated. We have tried and seen tried all 

 thi-ee methods, and find but little ditierence. Working now and 

 then is detrimental. For pasture there is nothing so good as 

 Kentucky blue grass. 



The tvpes of brood mares shomi in Fig. 56 do as much work 

 •IS oeldinos of the same type, except for three weeks of the year. 



What shall the mare be fed i The same as geldings tor the 

 first six months of pregnancy ; then gradually increase the amount 

 of bone- hair- and muscle-making food. She may be lei crushed 

 oats and corn to which wheat bran has been added and clover or 

 mixed hay -not too much alfalfa. A handful of oil meal once 

 a d-iv will keep her bowels in good condition. Constipation is 

 dangerous in a brood mare, as are also strong purgatives - avoid 

 both Ice cold water late in pregnancy is not desirable. 



Do not permit her in pasture where the grass is rank. We 

 lost a splendid colt once by letting the dam graze m a patch ot 

 wheat that was convenient to the stable. _ _ 



When may the foal be expected^ The period of gestation is 

 from 300 to 400 davs; 350 days for a male foal and 340 or a 

 female is a general average. Good symptoms of near at hand 

 foaling are: hirge full udder, teats well filled with waxy secre- 

 tions at ends, and sunken areas at pelvic bones _ 



Manv farmers neglect to have a suitable stall or place m which 

 the dam can foal with safety to herself and oft'spring. I siou d 

 be large and clean. All litter and material of every sor should 

 be removed, and the entire interior thoroughly washed with a dis- 

 infectant such as cresol, or a carbolic solution. Many colts be- 

 come infected in dirty stalls through the navel. In any event 



