EARLY TREATMENT OF THE FOAL. 125 



TREATMENT AFTER FOALING. 



Ill A healthy state the mare very soon recovers the efforts 

 which she has made in bringing forth the foal; and. in fine wea- 

 ther, she may be allowed to enter her paddock on the second day 

 afterwards, which is generally soon enough to suit the strength of 

 the foal, though occasionally the young animal is very active within 

 Bix hours after it comes into the world. For a couple of months, 

 or perhaps less in some cases, the mare and foal are better kept in 

 a paddock by themselves ; but in a large stud this is difficult when 

 the foals come very quickly ; and then several mares of quiet tem- 

 perament are put together, still keeping separate those which are 

 shy or vicious. Until the mare can get plenty of grass, she should 

 have carrots, bran mashes, and a feed or two of oats, which at first 

 are better given in the shape of gruel — the water with which this 

 is made having the chill taken off. Rye-grass is cultivated and cut 

 for the mares daily by those who have early foals ; but, though it 

 is better than hay, it is not equal to good upland clover-grass. 

 Lucerne is excellent, but it cannot be grown so early as rye. I 

 have already described, at page 123, the proper time for again 

 putting the mare to the horse, so that I need not enter into that 

 subject here. During the remainder 

 of the time of suckling, no special 

 treatment is required, except to see 

 that the mare is well fed and protected 

 from the weather. At weaning-time, 

 she sometimes requires a dose or two 

 of cooling medicine ; but generally she 

 is so nearly dry, that no interference 

 is required. MAEE ASD r0AI ,. 



EARLY TREATMENT OF THE FOAL. 



If the young animal is well formed and healthy, it will re- 

 quire no attention beyond that which I have specified as necessary 

 for the dam. There are, however, several accidents to which it is 

 liable; such as rupture either at the navel or flank, inversion of 

 the feet, &c. ; all of which will be treated of in their proper places. 

 About the time of the mare being " in use," the foal is generally 

 purged a good deal, and a warm drench will often be required. At 

 the end of a month, or sometimes earlier, the foal will eat bruised 

 oats ; and highly-bred young stock are generally allowed, from this 

 time, first a single quartern, and then by degrees two quarterns of 

 oats. Half-breds, and even cart-horses, would be the belter for this 

 stimulus to development ; but if it is begun, it should be continued ; 

 and, unless the foal shows such promise that it is expected to turw 

 out extraordinarily well, the extra expense will not be reimbursed. 



