132 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



for his ideal. If heavy horses are to be produced, heavy horses 

 must be mated. If roadster horses are wanted, coach horses 

 cannot be mated. It should always be remembered that like 

 produces like but at the same time there is considerable varia- 

 tion so that like does not absolutely produce like. 



The Brood Mare. — The brood mare should be as good as 

 possibly can be had. She should at all times be well exer- 

 cised. There is no better place to produce colts than on a 

 small farm where the mares do the regular farm work. They 

 should be handled carefully, however, so they do not become 

 injured. Heavy pulling, rough work and backing heavy loads 

 should be avoided while the mare is in foal. Backing a load 

 is unnatural work and brings undue strain upon the abdominal 

 muscles. This may cause premature discharge of the foetus. 



Mares in foal can be kept at light work right up to the time 

 the colt is born. At foaling time it is best to have the mare 

 in a box stall and have an attendant with her. After the colt 

 is born the navel cord should be firmly tied with a strong string 

 about an inch from the body of the colt and then cut off about 

 an inch below the point where it is tied. After cutting the 

 navel cord it (the part left on the body of the colt) should be 

 bathed in some disinfectant; for instance, a 3 to 5 per cent, 

 solution of carbolic acid. If the navel cord is not disinfected 

 there is danger of infection, which has killed many a good colt. 

 The attention just mentioned is about all that need be given 

 except in the case of a weak colt, which should be helped onto 

 its feet to get its first meal. 



If a mare is in good condition she will as a rule come in heat 

 about nine days after the colt is born. After this and at other 

 times the periods of heat are about three weeks apart. But 

 mares do not always come in heat in winter. The spring of 

 the year is the natural time. A colt is carried about eleven 

 months by its dam. This is the period of gestation. 



After foaling the mare should be allowed to spend her time 

 with the colt for a few weeks and then she may be put to work 

 again. The colt may be allowed to follow the mare in hght 

 work but should not be allowed to walk all day on a road or in 

 a soft field until it is well able to do so. A better practice is 

 to keep the colt in a box stall and return the mare as she comes 



