FOALS 275 



become reconciled by degrees to the inevitable that is 

 to follow. A violent rupture of their association is 

 bad, as both will fret, and quite possibly the mare may 

 be left with a large supply of milk in her, and, if so, 

 trouble, in the form of inflammation, is likely to ensue. 

 The foal, on the other hand, if abruptly left to shift for 

 itself, is quite likely to lose flesh rapidly, partly by 

 worrying over the absence of its dam and partly by an 

 inability — the result of total inexperience — ^to shift for 

 itself. 



Of course, such precautions are not necessary in the 

 case of the semi-wild breeds of ponies and horses which 

 constantly lie out on the moors and mountains of the 

 country. These breeds are existing in what is prac- 

 tically a state of nature, and a course of management 

 which is beneficial to more delicate breeds is quite un- 

 necessary for them. The mares of such varieties can 

 well stand the strain of having their foals running with 

 them until their supply of milk gradually dries up ; 

 and, what is more, the foals as often as not require more 

 nourishment than they are likely to obtain from the 

 land they are running on, as the keep in many parts is 

 very poor. 



The imperative necessity that exists for keeping the 

 foal moving can only be effected by ensuring him the 



