The Placer herald., 1865-03-04
HOW TO BREAK A COLT.

The word .break" seems to imply tina
the Young horse has a temper which must D
broken. rather than will which should b
trained to act in unison with that OF ~
master. The training of horse shou''
always proceed upon the principle that II
is a rational animal-that is, that he has
will, affection, lover of appreciation, o
caresses, of sugar-nteligence, ability tC
comprehend cause and effect, to understand
LANGUAGE and tones of voice, quckness t.
detect the temper Of the man who handles
him. TO know il he is kind and loves him, OF
,reful. malicious or passionate and likely to
hurt him. The horse is naturally timid and
his fears, if aroused, not on Y make him less
manageable, but impair his judgment, maxi
ING him see harm in almost every thing.
The whip should be used as a wand oi
authority, as giving the trainers ann a
longer reach, aud as a means of giving sig
nals-very seldom as rod Of correction.
When it is used to chas,ise, never threaten,
or let the horse know he is to be whipped,
but. having him perfectly under control, so
that his springs and struggles can do no
harm, give him one or two quick, severe
cuts This must be done without the least
spte-"more in sorrow than in anger
and the training should be resumed exactly
as if nothing had happened. If a man is
never sptetul and angry with colt the
horse will rarely or never show any real
vcousness.
A colt, properly trained, comes to the age
of 3 or years, halter broken kind, fond of
being handled and retted, and glad to see
his master, who should have been in the
habit of giving him an ear of corn, a swee,
apple, carrot, or lump Of sugar, SO frequent
ly that he will follow him like dog when
ever he goes to the pasture. For the good
of the horse, even unpleasant famiIiariies
such as his nose over ones shoulder, or in
ones pocket, ought not to be sternly rebuked
Three ounces of sugar will, in our opinion,
90 further towards breaking colt, than a
DAYS work with the whip, and even at pres
ent prices, sugar is good deal the most
economical The colt being of such a
character he may be harnessed, putting on
each piece of harness carefully, so as not to
cause alarm, taking care always, should he
show any alarm, to let him smell the article
and look at it to his hearts content. The
best place to harness a colt is a box, 8 or 10
fee, square The trainer should be deIiber-
ate, even ted;ously slow perhaps, if the colt
is high strung. If he is very fractions, he
NAV be Rsrey fled, so that be shall know
definitely who is master. No person who is
the least afraid of him, or who would Jump
or start when an attempt to kick, bite or
strike might be made, should be allowed to
bave any iutercourse.yi horse in training
| l,ri,l 10
ed his head and made it fit beforehand. 1t
should be of SIZE to be put on and of
easily. and have a smooth bit, wound will
cotton cloth. 1t is well to accustom him tc
take piece of wood into his mouth like
bit, repeatedly before putting on the bride
This done, lot him stand an hour not fasten
ed. or give him few turns about a circle
holding him by twenty foot reign or rope
Previous lessons should Lave accustomed
him to take various PAGES at the will of hi
trainer about such ring, sugar or olhe
dainty having been the reward Of well-doing
at the second lesson in harness, let al
assistant take the line in the center Of th'
circle, while the trainer takes the rein
behind the colt, at first merely holding them
then letting him feel the weight of the hauc
on ,hem and finally guiding him, little 10y
little, until he may be driven independently
of the assistant, and beyond the circle.
When accustomed to the harness, stand
ing and being exercised in it during one oil
two lessons each day for two days or week
according to the disposition of the animal he
may DO put into the thrills, but neither the
traces nor holdbacks hitched. Now let an
assistant rock rattle aud move the wagon a
while, aud then aid the trainer to move il
forward, while the colt is made to wall,
slowly, letting him have his head and look
at the wagon. Before attaching the traces
at the second lesson in harness perhaps, the
trainer on the nigh side, and his assistant or
the other, may grasp the thills each with
one hand, Just in front of the tugs, letting
the horse step forward and draw the Wagon
by the thlls and letting him feel its weigh
as much or little as desired. He may bt
backed somewhat in the same way. BY biz
actions, one may easily judge when it will
be safe to hitch him to the wagon. Tn,
vehicle selected should be one not heavy bu
strong, and which will run with little noise
One simple thing should be taught at time
seldom two distinct ideas at one lesson.-
They should be daily repeated at each lessor
until perfectly familiar, and after each goo'
performance, the horse should be caresse,
and rewarded. What horse learns in thi
way he remembers, and he will quick
exhibit really remarkable confidence in hi
master and alacrity to serve him.
A DARK HOUSE. - A dark house, say
III L :. 4 ~