The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-06-17

TRAINING CoLTs.-T. s. IugersolE'
of Rerea, Ohio, practical lmau, now.
mere than eighty years of age, writes =,
"Colts are taught in the first place.; :
while I am their friend, 1 must be their.
u,aster, aud I'd they they must OBEY TINS res
son is sometimes hard to learn, especi.'
ally as I used o break colts in former
years, when a young man. Then, 1T,
the colt did not "come right urfS thet
chalk" the first time, itwas ai.ur d. by
the whip. l was most u,nrr.u uul i'm
my dealings, exercising M reason nor
good judgment, which are the most
necessary attributes of character to bef
called into requisition by the trainer of
colts. These twotalents, together with
iratience, have made use OF in my la
ter years, in training coils, till 4 ihink,'
l have them in pretty good use when
required. Ny friends often say to me,
"Y ou are too Old to break colts Why,
a man nearly eighty yeats of age to
think Of breaking such wild colts, sit
seems quite absurd; you'll get killed by
them by and by.1 Ny reply always
has been, ~ am better qualified ,tq.
break colts, as you term III than when<
was young" It is not half the'work'
now that it was forty years -sgo. ~ !.
don't break any colts now, Itrain them
Il don't like the term Of breaking colts;
1 use the term of training or edncati1Gl
them-treating them something a. L
would a young child, never punishing
them for ignorance. I seldom tlse .
whip in my early training. The frst
exercises with n colt, after khei hasecar- !
ried the harness till he is not afraid of
it, is to put the lines to the bits, and
over the buttocks, and running themt'
through the breeches SO as tokeep them, ;
up, I go behind and attempt 70 dgiye
him. This sometimes makes awkRasda
work. but patience and reason, and ;
good Judgment now must be exercised,
for The cit will cut up all manner ott
pranks, sometimes rearing or kicking
up. Do not hold the reinsH too tight );
humor him till he finds he cannot get
away nor rid himself of the, harness.
and as he gets little tired be will be-.
gin to yield. 1 get my.colts aceustomS -
ed to the bits by drawing them around !
with the harness on, always letting the
traces, dangle about their legs as much
as possible, to get them used to having
anything hit their heels without being i
frightened by it Ishould have said.
before, that while I am driving themdi !
talk to, themsa great Heal. They will
soon learn my language. IF they seepl..
inclined to back. I gently pull on she
lines, and say, "Back, back Charley" J
if that is his name. When they choose !
to go forward, say, sqGo on>91 When
I want them to turn round I gently
pull the line on the side l. wish them 20 :
turn, aud say, "Come round, Charley, s
always speaking his nam6I When 5
think it is safe to5 put him between T.
pair OF thills, with two wheels, | 5rst !:
let him see it and smell of it, leadinea
him round it, lifting up the ,thills apd
letting them fall, till he sees that It Z
will not hurt him. Then put him j
between the thiiIsn and let him staud
awhile before l. atteDpt, dtoudriye him. i
By driyisg awhile in this vehicle, until
think it safe, .prt him before lum-
Der wagon, and he will soon, be man
ageable at ordinary work Farmer.