The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-07-07

Care and Training of Colts.

However much may have been writ
ten on the care and training of Colts,
the pratice is lamentably neglected.
1t requires cline upon line and preccpt
upon rrecept, here a little and there a
ittle," to induce some farmers and
Stock Breeders to abandon old habits
and to take a step in a new direction,
however plain and inviting the path
may be.
Some think that if a colt is half
starved for two or three years and cx-
posed to all the inclemencies of the
weather, that its constitution will be
strengthened and that the horse will
be moro hardy and durable.
This is n great mistake, By such
treatment the the growth is stunted /;
the horse does not attain to the size
and strength that it would have done
with more favorable treatment the
joints become stiffened and the in
cipient stages of many diseases are
contracted that mature with the horse
and cut off his usefulness premature
ly. 2 10XA
On the other hand, some pamper
se their oelts Too much-feed them to
, - much grain-force. that growth to OBJ
tain size prematurely, for the purpose
Di Tiof3 bringing them 10 an carly market.
The effects of this course are as bad as
40 the other-both are extremes anil lay
the foundation of diseases that lessons
I'D. the value of the horse.
r,s,as While the colt runs with the dam,
5Ht it will not starve if the mother is will
$50 fed and cared for, but even now it
.s,rs should have an opportunity of learn
.slo7 ing to eat other food than that drawn
from it's mother, especially when it APP
Sr,cv proaches weaving time it should then
1Ir3 havena little oats or bran every day.
-bisd The .rweaning is an important era in
its life, when it ought to receive speci-
sfI al attention. eT .-sg
.a5Fo-.=3 Whole grain corn should not be
fed to a colt at any time, unless it is
bssteamed or otherwise cooked, Oats
5asfenwould be all the better for having
passed through the same process be-
fore it is fed 8 but feeding it raw is
.fsd mot SO bal as corn. a quarter of oats
"a day will be enough to begin, and
7s4H this should be, divided into two, feeds
ilida morning an evening, a pint each
.ytime. As the colt advances in age
r:9 the amount; of feed should be gradual-
.t4, gly increased until it is one year old /;
after which time, if it has good pas
tIlre or hay, very little grain will be
reqhired-jdst enough Ito keep it in
good healthy condition, without max
@ ing it fat. It, should never be allow
ed to go back of this, or become stunt
oia ed ii . 10, ,4lsd sdi g. sol 4
There is another matter to be at
tended to, almost as important as that
8, = Of f~eeding-it is currying; bushing or
rubbing, to keep the skin loose. and
=" clean. This Should commencewh
theaedtB amenthl obl5and never be
abated. The, curry comb should be
applied very gently so as not Is hurt
'+ or irriate the animal, but the brush or
cloth may be applied with more vigor.
cfF HXhe training or handling should
as soon as the colt Is able
lotto stand fairly on his feet. z Speak
o 80 kindly and gently to it, carress it af-
fectionately in r~sacirn1anner as to con
s|ravince it that you arc its friend and
IS that it has nothing to fear from your
presence. BY this kind Of treatment
it will soon become attached to you
and will soon go to meet you Take
: 7y something in your hand for it to cat
Never hurt or plague it, nor brighten
da it, nor permit others to do SO. In this
way you will soon win its confidence,
but beware of b~etraymg that con-
fidence. :Ha rrr
The male colt should not be castrat-
ed before it is two years old. IF done
sooner, the courage, stamina anG vIgor
= of the future horse is weakened, the
form and beauty of the animal will
not become so well developed. If left
longer than this, he becomes, trouble
some and much care is incurred with
out corresponding advantage.
,at4E|The training should .acommence
when tie COLTS but a few days old.
1t should be haltered and accustomed
eez0 toibe led and .tiediup TO a post or 9th
er strong fixture, but only for a few
minutes at a time-just long enough
to convince it that your will issuperi-
or and must be obeyed. In haltering,
be very careful not to brighten it.
Give it plenty of time, let itsmcll and
examine the halter and become ac-
~ customed to seeing it before any at
s'i,n tempt is made to put it ON its head,
and when on, let it wear it n little
II while. and take it off again without
any attempt to lead or control it un-
til this has been performed several
times. .- ~
In the same manner, as it grows
older, it may be accustomed to saddle
and harness-the harness III pieces
and only one piece at a time, Thus
with care and patience a colt may be
well trained without any diffulty and
sal without any risk Of ~straining it or in
lzzs Turing it for future usefulness. BE
very careful not to put much weight
on its back while young.-COr. Stock
Journal. as