Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-02-07
fl 2 q p at.
Breaking Young Cattle.

1t is sport, rare sport, for boys to yoke young
steers aud fret them till they are tame; TO whip
them for ~Obstinacj FOR moving too fast or too slow.
Boys will teach them a bushel of tricks sooner
than a peck of good nGnnerS. Boys mus. not nan
die steers till they have been handled by men; ana
men have not all philosophy enough to make steers
kind and Obedient.
There is not so much risk run in breaking steers
rs in tutoring colts. The OK is so patient he will
endure all things even i'll tutoring. In the yoke
in the center of a team, he must go, Will we NIL ye,
and in time he will think it prudent to draw a
moderate load, rather than, feel the lash or the
goad.
But what a vast difference you find between OK
en that have been properly broken, and such as
have loosely borne the yoke in their YOUTH and
had their own way at a hill or in the mire. Can
they back a loaded cart, or will they know your
voice at the plOw!
lll-tutored oxen will fail you in your utmost
Need, They never draw even ,and one is not ready
to put forth his strength till his yoke-fellow has
exhausted all his store. Then you leave your
loaded sled in the woods and go for the mare; or
you unlade a part and HE home in a pet.
Oxen should never know hut they can draw any
load you put them to, and they will never suspect
it under a perfect teamster. He will never let
lhem draw when he finds the load quite too heavy,
and by crying out to them to stop, when they can
not go, he persuades them that they are stopped
by his command alone.
Steers may be yoked at a very early age. When
il is convenient, shut them up in Il shed or a stOng
pen, and gently place a light yoke on them there.
Dc not attempt to force them to march now, bnt
wait till they have become used to this burthen.
Feed them with something a little better than eve
ry day fodder, and satisfy them that you intend no
harm. IfyOur shed is large, it will be prudent to
pass a rope around the hind part of their bodies,
TO prevent their turning their yoke upside down,
and making the near one the off OK. A rope will
L.. r.. -. Ill I--. Ill. ill., --. -
each other as then necks are. Some tie their tails
together for this purpose; but a rope is better.
When your steers have become IL little used to
the yoke, you can put a chain on, aud let them be
used to the clanking of the links. Chain them fast
to a post IN your shed, and let them feel that this
front chain and yoke are stronger than they are.
They may stand for half a day chained fast, and
you need to look to them only occasionally.
Now you should unyoke them gently, and let
them have their liberty evidently by your own con-
sent. On the morrow, yoke them again in the
a m place and with the same care. Then yoke
up your oxen and driving them to the shed make
fast your steers to the oxen instead of the post.
Let the whole four stand awhile, that the steers
may see that no harm is intended. Soon you
may urge them forward close after the oxen, and
without using the whip. Let them follow round
and round the yard, chained to the oxen, never
putting them to draw till they have learned to fol.
low without fear.
After this exercise, you can bring a light sleC
or a pair of Wagon wheels and tongue. Let al
stand a few minutes; then move forward gently
not to terrify the young fellows too much Oh
finding a moving pole between them, and a pal
of rolling wheels behind. Keep them in gea
four or five hours to-day, having a rope on tn
horn of the nigh one, to make both follow di
rectly after the oxen.
In this way you can use your steers to FOLLOW
your oxen without striking a single blow. Flo
the only cause of obstinacy which we so oftel
find in steers, is ignorance and fear. The
know not what you would have-they fear Civ
ing offence, and they will prefer your lashin
and beating to any motion they can make. Yo
know this is the case-fOr, unyoked, you ca
drive one or two, or a dozen, and no one think
it advisable to stand and endure the lash i'll pre-
erence to moving.
But you must teach your steers to lead as we
as to follow your oxen. This requires skill
prevent bad habits. When first put to leac
lhCy VIII HlOllhC u HOU JOu, uhiCoo "
have a rope on the near horn. But you W
habituate them, if you avOid beating, to marc
straight forward; and they will suffer you to a
vance and come to their heads, without attemE
ing to sheer off, if they find you friendly. In
snow path you will find it more easy to ma
them ~tractable, than in a pillow field.
1t is quite important that young cattle Shot
be loaded so light that they can overcome
structions without great effort, They shot
not suspect that any load can stop them.
they have not been set, and whipped, and DO
cred, by vicious teamsters, you will find tn
ambitious to do all in their power for you
rising a hill, or in miry carting. You will &C
mand their whole strength without striking
blow, and you will be more sure of getting
Of the mire than by the use of all the whips
can command.
But your cattle will not go, nor will they
when you desire, unless you use good langu
TO them: not Greek, or Latin, or Hebrew
good plain English. You may use the Heb
well enough, provided you understand it land
yided that you alone are to be the driver.
il you do not, or if you intend that others,
know nothing but English, shall drive your
occasionally, you will find the English Ton
the only Sure Guide as Perry said OF
spelling-book, when it treated of that tongue
Those who have heard the language Of
Gus drivers, will not think this an unimpo
rule. Oxen must be more learned than lad
Greek, to get a clear idea from the sounds
in their ears by their uncivil drivers. The
rigmarole, harum scarum, hi, hOi, aOhOi, whO
is used, whether the team is to move or st
to haw or to g%ee--to keep quick time or to
the load; and the astonished ox--the natiUe
must wait till the goad quickens his ideas,
the butt-end of the handle on his nose, has
ed the seed for a wen, to disfgure his face,
him pain, and shorten his life.
Should not the doctrine of tr~GRsmigrGti
taught to cruel mastersl Who would thus