Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-07-18
From the New Enghnd Farmer.
A Word about Colts.

An impression, and think an erroneous
one. prevails with many iha, colts are in
jured hy early training. Tha, some colts
are injured, and their constitutions broken,
by cruel and rough treatment, before they
have acquired their strength, eanno, be
doubted bu, careful, judiclou. training, Is
as important with colts. a. with steers, or
with children. even. In tact. bslieye l,
true Of all young animal, intended for do
nestle use. as OF a child, Train them in
the way they should go, and when they are
old they will no, depart from H."
I have two colts. one eish, months old,
and the other on, year and ei;h, mon,hs.
They are both accustomed to the harness.
The olds., have irequon,ly usci in the
sleigh. On one occasion this winter, when
the sleishins was good. it has taken the, to-
setber with my little son, to Portsmouth
and back. distance Of nine miles. each
way. with no inconvenienec or injury what
ever. Some persons who knew the age OF
the colt. and the distance II travelled, re-
marked TO me, "You will kill iha, colt" F"
Th. remark induced me 10 write this
short article. wi,hou, knowing the cir
eums,anee-, the reader, perhaps. would form
a similar jutsmeni-but the col, j. large OF
it, ase, in good condition as to hrsh. aud
high. spirited: and required tito walk at
leas, two third. the distance each way. IL
was well led in the city. taken through the
streets where il could hear various souni.,
and witness all sorts OF objec,s-s,ill It was
no, suffered to tire, or scarcely to swca; a,
all. and TO every appearance va. as lively
and brigh, when reached home as when !
started. To have forced it beyond its
strength that distance. would have bcen in.
jurious-bu, careful training is always ben
efcial. and We rarely begin too young with
anything.
Lamber, Maynard, I.l, Of Bradford,
Mas, the owner Of one Of the fines, stall
lions IN New England, Crroitins Chi'ders,) }
who has bad much experiences in raising and
training colts, and who has .oli some fne
colt. o, hi. own rai,in; a, a high figure, IN
form. me ,ha, his colts are all broken 10 tho
harness before they are year old, or as he
more properly expressed it. educated lilo
rarely, Il ever. uses whip. As n its in'
jurins them. to use them 30 young, ho re.
marked ,ha: he never exercised them 20 hard
as they exercise themselves when alone.
- much for early ,rainips-and now one
word abou, feeding and exercise. Colts
should never Be forced with rroyender. nor
s,un,ed for want Of nourishing food. Ny
method i. to give them as much good, sweet
clover hay as they will "a, clean. with a few
little potatoes: and with this feed Get as
much growth in the winter as, with good
pasture. get IN the summer. On pleasant
days, when there i. no ice TO injure them,
they should always have ,Leir liberty to er'
ereise out Of door.. Ii is as cruel TO confne
a high spirited colt constantly by his halter,
a. to confns hi:h.splrIied, ambitious child
TO the house.
Farmers, raise good colts. from the best
OF stock keep them constantly growing
wi,hOu, pamperius; give them jadic'ou'
training when young; allow them every
favorable opportunity for free exercise. aud
We shall have what every sensible man or
woman admires. good hor'es
J. y. FRENCH.
North Hampton, March, 1862