CARE AND MANAGEMENT OP BROOD MARES. 169 



cross it will be best to pick up her near fore foot, bending it 

 backwards until it rests against the forearm, and fasten it there 

 by means of a broad, soft strap ; a common pole-strap will an- 

 answer the purpose admirably, but if this kind of a strap is 

 not handy, then a hold-back from a single harness may be 

 made to answer. "With her head well elevated and fastened 

 there, and one fore-foot strapped up as above described there 

 is but little danger from injury by kicking. 



Close watch should be kept to see that there is an evacua- 

 tion of the bowels. A great many foals are lost every year 

 owing to a lack of attention to this very important matter. 

 Give an injection of half a pint of warm soap suds and give a 

 physic of castor oil, if necessary ; but usually the injection will 

 be sufficient. 



It is always well to have on hand at such times, and to give 

 the mare a wheat bran mash mixed with warm water or a few 

 quarts of warm oat-meal gruel. Give no cold water to drink 

 for two days after foaling if in cool or cold weather, *but take 

 the chdl off by adding a little hot water or by the insertion of 

 a hot iron into a pail of water. 



Care should also be used in feeding grain to the dam direct- 

 ly after foaling, but in a few days she may be fed liberally 

 — commencing lightly and increasing gradually — with a mix- 

 ture of ground oats, cracked wheat, and corn-meal lightened 

 up with bran. A good mixture may consist of five bushels of 

 oats to one of wheat, one of corn-meal, and two of bran. The 

 foals will soon learn to eat with their mothers. 



If the weather is suitable the sooner the foal is turned into 

 a warm, dry, any sunny yard the better. The dam should not 

 be allowed to stand m a draught of air or remain out in damp 

 or chilly weather. 



It is certainly a trouble to look after the foals as they ar- 

 rive, but it just as certainly pays to do so; if they are weak 

 they sometimes require a little stimulant of whisky or other 

 spirituous liquor. 



