284 Western Live-stock Management 
her to work up until the time she drops her foal. Under 
these circumstances, she will usually be in good, strong, 
healthy condition and her digestive system will be in 
order. If she is laid off in new surroundings and the 
feeding greatly changed, her system is liable to be upset 
and leave her in worse condition than the regular work. 
Parturition is a severe strain, and in order to bring forth 
a vigorous, strong foal, the mare must be in good condition. 
Some mares come in heat after missing three or four 
regular periods. Such cases are often due to abortion. 
Mares, of this kind should be carefully watched, and 
examined to see that their sexual organs are in good condi- 
tion. A few mares will come in heat regularly and accept 
the horse, and still be in foal from the first service. Ir- 
regular conditions of this kind require that the mare 
owners be exceedingly careful, watch the mares closely, 
and use their best judgment in regard to them. 
Signs of pregnancy. 
The first sign of pregnancy, and the one which is used 
in breeding mares, is the absence of the usual heat period. 
When a mare becomes pregnant, the usual periods of 
heat do not appear, and the mouth of the womb becomes 
closed. As the pregnancy advances, the mare usually 
becomes quieter, has a tendency to take on fat, is cross 
toward other horses, has somewhat fuller flanks, and there 
is a general contraction of the vulva. In the more ad- 
vanced stages the belly becomes more pendulous, the 
udder develops, and a jerking movement of the fcetus is 
often noticed, especially after the mare has taken a 
drink of cold water. If there is any special doubt in 
regard to the pregnancy of the mare, and it becomes 
necessary to ascertain whether she is pregnant or not, 
