Cake of ttie Bhood ^Fake and Her Colt 1^)1 



it is wise to tie and disinfect the latter as soon as the cult is 



dropped. 



There is no better place for a mare to foal than in a pasture, 

 provided the weather permits, and no other stock is nearby. 

 Watch her carefully, for many dams and foals have died from 

 lack of attention at foaling time, even with normal presentations. 

 Sometimes the foal's head is covered with air-tight membranes 

 and it smothers or suffocates. Wo have known many such cases. 

 If the presentation is abnormal, call a veterinarian at once. Keep 

 the mare and colt quiet for a few hours, and see that the foal 

 sucks. Do not let the udder become caked. 



In case the colt dies there is nothing better to dry up the 

 mother than camphorated lard rubbed on the udder twice a day. 

 In addition milk her, l)ut not dry, two or three times a day until 



she is dry. 



If the mother should die in foaling or soon after, give the foal 

 cow's milk modified by one-fourth water, with a teaspoonful of 

 melted sugar added to a <iuai't. Be sure to feed blood warm, 

 and at first with a large nipple. After a week or ten days the 

 foal will learn to drink. Great care should be exercised that the 

 vessel is washed with scalding water after each feeding. 



CARE OF THE YOFXG COLT 



it. How often should the foal be permitted to nurse ? Xever when 

 the mother is very warm or excited. Under normal conditions, at 

 will until two weeks old ; then three times a day until four weeks 

 old ; after that gradually reduce until none at weaning time. 



Foals should not follow their mothers if worked in the field or 

 on the road. If the mother is not worked and is on pasture, the 

 foal should run with her. 



One should begin to break the foal to the halter when the Latter 

 is two or three days old. Then, if necessary, it can be tied in its 

 mother's stall in her absence, or while grooming and harnessing 

 her. Foals must be controlled, and this is readily accomplished 

 bv the use of the halter. 

 ' The foal should always have a separate box or receptacle for 

 solid food apart from the mother's, where it can eat at will with- 

 out hindrance or annoyance from her. This feeding box should 

 be as far removed from the mother's as possible, but should 

 alwavs be near her — in the manger if it is low enough. 



