Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-05
Right Edmcaiinn of Enrses.

That horses may be educated will not ap-
pear strange to those who have closely OBJ
served the Intelligence often manifested hy
that noble animal. The present remarks are
designed 10 give some information in relation
10 the rearing and treatment Of young horses
not 50 much, however, with reference to their
iul.d and drink, Il. 10 their guietncss and do
cilitv.
That there is difference in the tcmner
and disposition of different horses i not de-
med but ut the same time It Is avcrrcd that
where horse Is 50 vicious or unmanagcablo
as to render him unsafe in the harness, it is
chargcahle IN almost erpy instance to the
treatment he has formerly received
The training of colts should commence
when they are about three months old 20 as
60 have them become fam liar with the family
before they are taken from the dam Sono
colts are inclined to use their heels rather
too freely in such cases great care is neces-
sarv. They should be approached carefully,
and carcsscd and curricd, and they will soon
submit to have their feet taken up and
handled without resistance and this will
aid in quictng them while being shod as the
horse seldom iorgets what he has once
learned
y common method Of weaving colts is to
take them to some back lot, and place heavy
yoke or " poke - on the neck, which they
are compelled to wear for several weeks until
their spirits are completely broken and they
become more or less &" ewe-ncckcd," f-ulA
which defect shcy rarely wholly recover
Another method, but little less Objectionable,
is to Shut them in the stable; but this does
not learn them to respect n tcycs IN the least.
Now the better way, and the one that the
writer has practsed with uniform success, is
the following -
- Prepare yard, Gfi contains an acre or
more 50 much the better,) having a strong
high icnce, 50 high that the colt cannot pos
slhly leap over it-irom six q seven tsvt will
lO suiiicicut-and let the materials Of which
the fence is composed be the Same as those
enclosing the field where the colt is in future
to be kcpt-cithcr WALL boards, or rats, as
the case may hc-And place him there with
out attaching any artificial appcndage what
ever, and let HIM understand that u - yAc
.Jp!rc dIone that prcrentS hiS escape He
should be generously fed. and also have
shed to which he can retire at pieasure.
After he has been s;.Ldurd in this way, ho
may be turned into any field haru.g a Jcace
ot Mc >ame kHd. and OF ordinary height, and
he will not attempt to break over. Even tho
most spirited horse brought up in this
way cannot be induced to leap fence four
and half feet high.
The practical benefits Of the above plan arc
great. in passing through the country ono
is panied to see So many noble looking horses
Shacklcd and hampered in every conceivable
way that ingenuity can invent, much to their
drtrimcnt III putting on flesh, to say nothing
Of tn" pcrllcNity and trouble to the owner in
adjusting the trappings every time the beast
is turned out Qr taken Up, aud all for the
want of a little care during the first year.
for it is cmincntly true in this case that an
ounce Of prevention is worth a pound Of
cure
There are many horses not true" or re.
liable, IN the harness, having the habit TO
stop or balk, especially at the foot Of hill !;
TINS Is caused by having been at some time
overloaded, and perhaps numerically beaten,
NclghbUr y. has IL beautiful >nan of bavs,
three year- Cd, that he has b6en breaking
III the past winter he wishes to haul some
rails from the farther side of the farm, and
as the colts have become tolcrahly - handy, ="
he puts ON nearly Il full load which they
manage very well until they come to - hard
spot, and there thuy stop, The driver looks
at the load, then Looks ut the horses tkoy
are nearly as large as the old team--ho
hnoWS they can draw it, and he is determined
they shalt. 50 he continues beating and
pounding the poor animals until he j. nearly
+ worried out. when he throws off his load ppd
goes home with loss of both time and temper,
and the horses damaged to the amount of
twenty-five dollars lath
Now it is quite prohahi" that the horses
. had strength enough to draw the load in
question, hut they had not sufficient practice;
they did not know how to apply their
strength, and did not work in concert
They should have hccn made 10 draw only
| light loads for long time, and then by
1 increasing the weight gradually, as their
t, strength and experience m'rca-c-, they can
\ be made to do all the work they are ca pablo
e of doing, and will always work kindly, ana
F. may he depended on under all circumstances
-IHc Wool Grolcer and Str,5 Re.