242 CONFESSIONS OP A HORSE DEALFIU 



milk often flowing out an hour before delivery. She 

 must now be closely watched, as many a fine colt has 

 been lost, by being suffocated in the sheet. If the mare 

 has been well taken care of while in foal, and in good 

 health, but little danger will attend the act of parturi- 

 tion. When all is right shs will be delivered in a very 

 short time ; if, however, there appears to be any great 

 difficulty in producing her foal, a little gentle assistance 

 is sometimes necessary. 



The act of labour over, it is necessary to secure the 

 cord by a ligature near the colt's bodj T the cord may 

 then be severed by a sharp knife. This practice I have 

 never seen recommended, or heard considered as neces- 

 sary, but I am fully satisfied of its importance, as in some 

 cases I have found the cord so strong that disastrous 

 consequences would certainly have attended its violent 

 rupture. It will be better to leave the mare alone for 

 an hour or so, that she may be permitted the natural 

 operation of licking her foal undisturbed, and that it may 

 gather strength sufficient to enable it to rise. When upon 

 its feet, and having learned to suck, there is but little 

 danger but that both mare and colt will do well. 



