Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-06

purpose.
The operation of teaching q horse to follow
a man and also to cure him of kicking and
backing, should be proceeded by the throwing
down process, and in bad cases by the chok-a
ing operations, as the animal is thus render
ed gentle, tractable, aud ofiiciously obedient
10 whatever he can be taught to comprehend.
This subsequent educational course is neces-
sary In order to render the reformation per-
manent-
HOW TO BREAK COLTS.
The following Instructions with relation to
the management and breaking of colts, and
the subsequent operations upon obdurate and
ungovernable horses. were originally written
and published by Mr.. Rarey some three years
ago. and are an important part of his system,
although coming more particularly under the
head of training, rather than tanning III
colt is properly broken in his first encounter
with man. the necessity for q method OF tam
ming other than that used for wild horses,
would never have been experienced. therefore
these instructions are peculiarly valuable.
HOW TO HALTER, SADDLE, AND Birdie COLT.
In breaking a colt we should first endeavor
TO make him conscious of what is required OF
him-Feitering him with halter for the
first time. placing the saddle upOn his back,
fastening the girths, are all matters OF para
mount Importance, demanding the greatest
q gree OF DtllcDCe. perseverance,. anu ih'ui
tive knowledge of his idiosyncracies. Before
putting halter upon colt, he must be rem
dered familiar with it by caressing him and
permitting him to examine the article with
nose. Then place portion of 1t over his
head. occasionally giving it a slight pull. ana
in few minutes he will be accustomed to
these liberties, and then the halter may be
fastened on properly. To teach him to lead
is another difficulty. Stand a little one SIDE,
= tnlra hnl hA
straps and pull gently. and at the same time
touchhim very lightly with the end of a long
whip across his hind legs. This will make him
start and advance a few steps. Repeat the
operation several times, and he will soon
learn to follow you by simply pulling the hal
ter.
The process of saddling and bridling is
similar. The mouth of the colt should be
frequently handled, after which introduce a
plain snaflle between his teeth and hold IT
there with one hand and caress him with the
other Alter a time he will allow the bride
to lie placed upon him. The saddle can now
he brought in and rubbed against his nose
his neck and his legs; next hang the stirrnp
strap across his back. and gradually insinu-
ate the saddle into its place The girth
should not he fastened until he becomes tho
roughly acquainted with the saddle. The
first time the girth is buckled it should be
done so loosely as not to attract his attention;
subsequently ii can be frightened without in
spring him with fear, which il fastened inn
mcdiately it would most certainly do. Ia
this manner the widest colt can be effectual-
ly subjugated by such imperceptible degrees
that he gives tacit obedience befor he is aware
of his altered condition.
THE PROPER WAY TO BIT A COLT.
Farmers often put biting harness on a
colt the first thing they do with him. buckling
up the biting as tight as they can draw 1t, TO
make him carry his head high. and then turn
him out in lot to run a half day at time.
This is one of the worst pun;shments that
they could inflict on colt, and very injurious
to young horse that has been used TO run
ming in pasture with his head down.
a horse should be well accustomed to the
bit before you put on the biting harness, and
and when you first bit him you should only
rein his head up to that point where he natural
" holds it, let that be high or low; he will
soon learn that he cannot lower his head, and
that raising il little will loosen the bit in
his mouth. This will give him the idea of
raising his head to loosen the bit, and then
you can draw the biting little tighter every
time you put it on, and he will still raise his
head to loosen it. BY this means you will
gradually get his head and neck in the posi-
ton you wish him to carry it, and give him
IA graceful carriage, without hurting him,
making him angry, or causing his mouth to
get sore.
If you put the biting on very tight the
first time he cannot raise his head enough TO
loosen it, but will bear on it all the time, and
paw, sweat, and throw himself. Many horses
have been killed by falling backward with
the biting on; their heads being drawn up,
strike the ground with the whole weight of
the body. Horses that have their heads
drawn up tightly should not have the biting
on more than fifteen or twenty minutes ut a
time.
HOW TO HARNESS THE COLT.
You should. by all means, have your her
ness made to fit your horse. especially the
collar Hundreds of horses have been spoiled
by collars that do not fit as they should. y
little attention to this matter beforehand will
facilitate your progress very much. Take
Your harness into the stable; go through the
same process that you did with the saddle
letting the colt examine your harness satisfac-
torily; then put it Oh carefully; and alter
Won have il all complete, then put on your
lines: use them gently, as he is rather skit
fish, until he is used to Them Il little; then
lead him back and forth in the stable until he
does not seem To mind the fitting of the har-
ness 10 his body; then take hold of the end
of the traces aud pull slightly at first, increas
ing your strength until he will pull you across
the RldDlt Ddth anu lOIlut tutu ulbCu Illll W
whatever you wish him to pull.
TO HITCH UP THE COLT.
This should be done with great caution
first letting him examine the buggy or suiky
in his own way of examining objects; then
carefully hitch him up; having every Thing
safe, let him start the buggy empty, and pull
that at first in that way; then get in, and let
him take il slow, and he will not be near SO
apt to scare, and 10y degrees you will be max
ing good work-beast
Ii you want to have horse that will be
true TO pull, and tnat thinks he could pull
mountain, never hitch him to any thing that
he cannot pull. and after he is used to pulling,
he just thinks that he can pull anything. be-
cause he always has, and he does not know
anything about his strength beyond his ex-
perience.
THE KIND OF BIT, AND HOW TO ACCESSION A COLT
To 1T.
You should use large, smooth snaffie bit.
so as not to hurt his mouth, with u bar ON
each side to prevent the bit from pulling
through either way. This you should attach
to the head stall OF your bride and put it on
your colt without any rcins to it, and let him
run loose in large stable or shed some time,
until he becomes "A little used To the bit, aud
will bear it without trying to get out OF his
mouth. IL would be we'll, if convenient, 10
repeat this several times before you do any
thing more TO the colt; us soon as he will bear
the bit, attach u single rein 10 il. without any
You should also have halter
on your colt, or "A bride made after the fash
ion of halter, with strap to it, SO that you
can hold or lead him about without pulling
on the bit much. lie is now ready for the
saddle.
HOW TO MOUNT THE COLT.
First soothe him well on both sides about
the saddle, and all over, until he will stand
still without holding, and is not afraid TO see
you anywhere about him.
As soon as you have him thus gentled, get
a small block about one foot or eighteen