THE BROOD MARE. 189 



two great ends are attained — ^the mare is 

 kept in a cool condition, while the foetus is 

 well nourished. 



Some care must be taken of the mare at 

 the time of weaning. This may be when 

 the foal is six months old, though, if the 

 latter seems at all delicate, or the mare 

 is not wanted, it may be left with its mother 

 a month or two longer; but not later than 

 this, if the mare is again in foal, since to 

 suckle the foal at foot and nourish the 

 foetus within at the same time will be too 

 severe a strain upon her. After the foal 

 is taken from her she should be milked a 

 little, but not too much, and less day by 

 day, when the milk will soon dry up. Ex- 

 perience teaches. The first mare I bred 

 from, as she had not been sent to horse 

 again and I did not want her to use, was 

 allowed to wean her foal at her own dis- 

 cretion. That answered all right, but the 

 second foal I weaned at six months, and 



