310 THE HORSE. 



mined for all weight for age races, and in fact for all purposes. 

 Tlie mare should be allowed to be at large in the fields during 

 the day time, as exercise is of the greatest consequence to her 

 health ; and she should be carefully kept from the sight of any 

 object which can terrify or distress her, such as pig-killing, or 

 the sight or smell of blood in any way. Sometimes an epidemic 

 causes a series of miscarriages or premature slippings of the 

 foals, and almost every mare on the farm is affected in the same 

 way, and there seems to be no mode of preventing this untoward 

 result. When the mare is near her time, she shows her state by 

 tlie filling of the udder, and by the falling in of the muscles on 

 each side of the croup, which the farriers call the " sinking of 

 the bones." When these signs appear the mare should be con- 

 stantly watclied, in order that assistance may be given her if 

 there is any difiiculty in the presentation. The usual mode for 

 the foal to come into the world is with both fore-legs first, and 

 if after they appear the nose shortly shows itself, all may be 

 considered straightforward, and no fears need be entertained, 

 Sometimes with a large foal and a comparatively small pelvis, a 

 little assistance may carefully be given by gently drawing upon 

 the legs after the head is well down ; but these cases are un- 

 usual, and with this natural presentation it is seldom required. 

 If, however, there is any other kind of birth, and the head pre- 

 sents without the legs, or the hind legs first, or if the head is 

 doubled back upon the body, assistance must generally be ob- 

 tained, unless the man in attendance is more than ordinarily 

 skilful. Turning is generally the expedient which is had re- 

 course to by the regular practitioner, but it requires great care 

 and skill to accomplish the operation without danger to the foal. 

 As soon as this is born the mare should be allowed to clean it, 

 and the secundines are removed by the attendant ; after which 

 tlie mare should have a little warm gruel, and, if very much 

 exhausted, about a pint of strong ale — more or less according to 

 circumstances — may be given with it. It often happens with the 

 first foal that the mare will not take to it, and not only refuses to 

 clean it, but actually denies it the proper nourishment from her 

 teats. When this is the case, the man should milk the mare 

 and soothe her, and, after her udder is somewhat empty, and she 

 is relieved, she will generally allow the foal to suck. They 



