112 MANUAL OF FARM ANIMALS 



need be, but the mare must not know of his presence. Most^ 

 mares will not give birth to their young in the presence of per- 

 sons if they can help it. 



If the mare shows after a reasonable time that she cannot de- 

 liver the foal, or if examination discloses that there is an ab- 

 normal presentation (normally the fore feet appear first, then 

 the nose), a veterinarian should be summoned at once. Do 

 not wait too long, for her strength rapidly fails. Difficult par- 

 turition among horses is much more likely to result fatally 

 to the offspring than among cattle, sheep, or swine. 



The mare and the young foal. — After foaling, if all is normal, 

 the mare will usually get up and tend to her foal. After she is 

 on her feet, offer her a drink of gruel made from a pound of fine 

 oat meal in half a bucket of water from which the chill has been 

 taken. While the mare should be lightly worked up to the day 

 of foaling, it is essential that she have a few days' rest after foal- 

 ing; how long will depend on the condition of the mare and 

 foal, and the financial circurnstances of the breeder. Strong 

 mares that have come through satisfactorily will be able to 

 do light work in three or four days if need be, whereas others 

 will need at least two weeks to recover from the shock. 



Two things require attention at this time so far as the mare 

 is concerned : she must be properly nourished, not fed too 

 much or too little and with the right sort of food ; if able, 

 she must have light exercise or the foal will suffer. 



The foods given the brood mare when nursing her foal should 

 be such as have a tendency to produce milk. Corn and timothy 

 hay fed alone are not good milk-producing foods. Foods rich 

 in protein and ash, such as oats, bran, clover, and alfalfa hay, 

 are preferred, and they could be improved by the addition 

 of a succulent food such as carrots. Many mares are poor 

 milk-producers at best, and they must be encouraged. Plenty 

 of good fresh grass is one of the best aids to healthy and abun- 

 dant nutrition for both mare and foal. 



