THE BROOD MARE 



THE PREGNANT MARE 



283 



The management of the pregnant mare should have for 

 its object the feeding of such a ration as will supply her 

 demands for energy, and in addition allow ample nourish- 

 ment for the development of the foal, both before and for 

 a short time after birth, together with such a regulation 

 of the work as will protect the mare from becoming tired, 

 overheated, or injured in any way. The breeder who is 

 painstaking and can accomplish this will experience little 

 or no difficulty in managing brood mares before, during 



FIG. 136.— BROOD MARES SHOWING CONFORMATION, SOUNDNESS AND 



UNIFORMITY 



and after parturition. There is no secret in raising colts 

 further than the feeding of a moderate amount of nutri- 

 tious food and providing sufficient exercise to keep the 

 mare and foal in perfect health. 



Working the pregnant mare. — As stated, moderate 

 work is not only harmless, but positively advantageous 

 to mares in foal, provided proper care can be taken not to 

 overload them. It is much better than to keep them 

 tied in the stable, for in that case they suffer for want of 

 exercise. Notwithstanding, popular opinion to the con- 

 trary, moderate work is better for brood mares than to 



