TBEATMENT OF MARES WITH FOAL. 241 



pregnancy. A run to grass four or five months would 

 be highly advantageous. But if her services are needed 

 either for agricultural or other purposes, she may be 

 kept at moderate work from the time of connection up 

 to the period of foaling, not only without injury, but 

 with decided advantage. Moderate exercise is essential 

 to the production of healthy offspring. When half the 

 period of pregnancy has expired, she should be more 

 generously fed, as by this time the foetus will be making 

 greater demands on her for sustenance, and she should 

 therefore be allowed one, two, or three feeds of grain & 

 day, according to her condition and the amount of labour 

 required to perform. This is also the period when abor- 

 tion is most likely to occur. The mare is in danger of 

 slinking her foal from foul blows, over-exertion, the use 

 of musty hay or grain, and offensive objects of smell or 

 eight of any kind. Good feeling and careful exercise 

 are the best preventives of this misfortune. The mare 

 should not be let out or exposed to cold wind and storms, 

 and at night she should be placed in a wide stall or loose 

 box, well littered with clean straw, affording her a good 

 bed, which will add much to her thrift and comfort ; 

 she should also be curried and rubbed down, if worked, 

 at least once a day. 



When the mare is near foaling, she should be by her- 

 self, either in a small lot or good roomy stable, under the 

 frequent inspection of her owner or some careful person. 

 The approach of parturition is indicated by the formation. 

 of milk in the udder and the filling up of the teats; 



