186 THE BROOD MARE. 



not be too fat. Not only does excessive fat 

 interfere with the nutrition of the foetus, 

 but it renders the act of parturition more 

 difficult and precarioiiis, while also it increases 

 the tendency to inflammation. Nevertheless, 

 she must, of course, be well nourished. 

 If the autumnal grasses should be scanty, 

 or innutritions, as they are apt to be in 

 certain seasons, a brood mare which has 

 been highly fed all her life will require a 

 feed or two of corn in addition ; but in an 

 average season she will do very well till 

 near the end of the year, when carrots, 

 parsnips, or, when they come in, mangolds 

 (of which many horses are extremely fond) 

 may be allowed Avith her hay, and occasional 

 bran and linseed mashes. Brood mares 

 at work, too, are all the better for some 

 sort of green food ; lucerne, when it can 

 be procured, being particularly suitable, and 

 sainfoin, but vetches are less to be com- 

 mended. By observing these precautions 



