CHAP. IV. MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 427 



of the horse now legally dates from the first of January, a Late-dropped 

 foal might often be said to have entered his second, or any subsequent 

 year, and be compelled to carry weight accordingly, when he really was 

 two or three months short of that age. 



Mares should be well- but not over-fed throughout the whole period 

 of gestation. Grass, unaided by artificial food is, observes Mr. Rey- 

 nolds, insufficient for the sustenance of breeding mares who are also at 

 work ; to insure the yearty production of strong foals a daily allowance 

 of corn should be continuously given them, but, except in the depth of 

 winter, or for very young or very aged mares, green food, chaff, and 

 pulped roots suffice for the requirements of non-workers. Mashes or 

 bruised oats or barley, associated with pulped roots and chopped hay 

 or straw, moistened with linseed-cake water, are the most suitable 

 foods for working mares in foal. Maize is not a desirable article of 

 diet for in-foal mares when it constitutes a chief part of their corn 

 allowance their newly dropped offspring always exhibit general 

 weakness of muscle and abnormal relaxation of the ligaments of the 

 joints. Every description of food likely to undergo rapid fermentation, 

 or to produce indigestion, mustbe scrupulously avoided. Long fasts 

 are extremely prejudicial. 



The Yorkshire farmers who breed from their working mares, gene- 

 rally employ them until the very time of foaling (and where the work 

 is not too heavy this practice is advantageous rather than otherwise), 

 after which they usually have two or three weeks' rest before they are 

 again put to labour. The foal, while veiy young, is shut up in a stable 

 during the time its dam is working ; but this should not be continued, 

 for exercise, in moderation, tends to develop its frame and invigorate 

 its constitution. It is the practice of some farmers to bathe the udder 

 of the dam with lukewarm water when she returns from work, and to draw 

 some of the milk, lest, in consequence of its being heated, it should 

 have a bad effect upon the foal. This is a good plan, so far as regards 

 the washing of the udder, for that refreshes the dam ; but the waste 

 of the milk is objectionable, and it is better to allow the mare to stand 

 until she is cool. Some continue to separate the foal from the dam so 

 long as the former sucks ; others, after it has acquired sufficient 

 strength to run with the mare, allow it to accompany her at her labour 

 on the farm, from an opinion that it is of advantage to both that the 

 milk should be frequently drawn, 1 while the exercise that the foal is 

 thus compelled to take contributes to its growth and strength ; and in 

 this latter opinion we coincide. 



In districts where the mare is not required to work until the foal is 

 weaned, grass suffices for all her requirements. The best old pastures 

 should, however, be reserved for her use. When, through drought or 

 overstocking, these cease to afford sufficient green food, the deficiency 

 must be made up by an allowance of cut artificial grasses, lucerne or 

 clover, given with discretion. 



The usual time for weaning is when the foal has reached the age of 



1 Agricultural Survey of Yorkshire, p. 275. 



