Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-03
Word about Colt.

An impression and | think an erroneous
one prevails with many that colts are injured
by early training. That some colts are lnjur
ed, and their constitutions broken, by cruel
and rough treatment, before they have acquir.
ed their strength, cannot be doubted but care
iul, judicious training, is important with
colts as with steers or with children, even.
In fact, believe it true of all young animals,
intended for domestic use, as of a child.
Grain them in the way they should go, and
when they are old they will not depart from
it."
have two colts, one eight months old, and
the other one year and eight months. They
are both accustomed to the harness The old
est have frequently used in the sleigh. On
one occasion this winter, when the seiehing
was good it has taken me, together with my
little son, to Portsmouth and back, distance
of nine miles each, with no Inconvenience or
injury whatever. Some persons who knew
the age OF The colt, and the distance it travel.
led, remarked to me, "You will kill that colt"
This remark induced me to write this short
article Without knowing the circumstances,
the reader, perhaps, would form a similar
iudgment-but the colt is large of its age, in
good condition as to flesh, and high spirited;
and / required it to walk at least two.thirds
the distance each way. 1t was well fed in the
city, taken through streets where it could hear
various sounds, and witness all sorts of OBJ
jects-still it was not suffered to tire, or
scarcely to sweat at all, and to every appear
ance was as lively aud bright when | reached
home as when l started. TO have forced it
beyond its strength that distance, or half the
distance, would have been uiurous-but care
full training is always beneficial, and we rarely
begin too young with anything.
Lambert Maynard, Esq, of Bradford, Mass,
the owner of one of the finest stations in New
England (Trotting Childers), who has had
much experience in raising and training colts.
and who has sold some fine colts of his own
raising at high figure, informs me that his
colts are all broken to the harness before tbev
are a year old, or, as lie more properly ex
pressed it, educated. He rarely, if ever, uses
a whip. As to its injuring them, to use them
so young, he remarked that he never exercised
them so hard they exercise themselves
when alone.
So much for early traiuing-and now one
word about feeding and exercise. Colts
should never be forced with provender, nor
stinted for want of nourishiDg food My
method is to give them as much good, sweet
clover hay as they will eat Clean with few
little potatoes and with this feed l get as
much growth in the winter as, with good
pasture, get in the summer. On pleasant
days when there is no ice to njure them, they
should always have their liberty to exercise
out of doors. 1t is as cruel to confine high
spirited colt constantly by his halter, as to
confne high.spirted, ambitious child to the
house.
Farmers, raise good colts, from the best Of
stock keep them constantly growing, with
out pampering give them judicious training
when young; allow them every favorable op
portuuity for free exercise, and we shall have
what every sensible man or woman admires
good horses j. L, FRENCH.
North Hampton, March, 1862.
ADMINISTRATION No suggestions with
regard to colts can be more judicious The
highest spirited colt lever saw, we broke
in accordance with the suggestions given by
Mr.. French. We began by putting on the
bride only and continued through an entr,
month to add various parts of the harness
until he wan perfectly accustomed to every
part of it. lie was allowed to stand with th'
harness on from morning until noon, when i
was taken off the colt watered and fed, anC