The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-05-26
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.


A. this ID the season OF the year gen
orally adapted for handling and break
ing colts to ride and drive, I thought !
would send a few suggestions on the
subject to the farming public, through
your valuable Journal. In the first
place, IL the colt has not been stabbed,
be should be allowed to 60 in and he.
come perfectly accustomed to the sta
Bile; let him know that thereis nothing
there that will hurt him; feed him a
little grain 30 he will love to 60 in the
stable. All this should be done before
10 is old enough to break to ride or
drive. Have him securely tied with
the halter; go in the stall by him; PAL
him gently with the hand; put the
comb on him, curry his back, under
his belly, and down bis legs. Should
he raise foot, or kick, don't run ou'
and abandon the undertaking--or worse
still-get stick and fall to beating
him, as have seen some do, but stano
your ground, get q position so that he
can't hit you should he kick, then re.
peat the process; put on the comb,
and bring it down near where you had
il when he kicked, hut not quite so far;
keep talking to lin, and pattiny him
gently; let him know you don't mean
20 hurt him, but keen on currying him,
or rubbing with the hand, bringing the
hand lower each time. BY repeating
this process you can not only handle
the body, but the legs and feet with
perfect safety. Above all things do
not allow yourself to get angry with Il
colt, and do not try to learn him eve
thing at once--colts, like boys. must
learn by degrees. After the colt has
become gentle, 80 you can pass around
it, and handle it with safety, then put
on the bride and let him wear it until
he gets used to it; then stand by his
eide and bear gently on his back with
the hand; have step handy so you
can bring your body partly above his
back, then lean gently on him, rattine
and talking gently to him all the while ,
then put the foot over, having him Sc
curely tied with the halter all the time :;
this should be repeated several times in
the stable until you can get on and of
At your leisure, without the least fright
to him; this done. and your colt is
broke. Take the colt out Of the sta
bic, lead him around with the bride,
turning his head right and left with the
bit; then get on him-should he not
want to go, let some one lead him few
steps 80 he may know he can go while
you ale on his back; have good
switch in the hand, and, if coaxing will
not do, then touch him gently with the
whip, should he act stubborn and ugly
which they will seldom do under su. h
treatment--thcn hit him one cut with
the whip, but never more than one
blow; this will bring him to sense Of
feeling. and do more towards snbdung
him than several blows would. have
seen riders fall to beating colt be-
cause he would not 60 right off at first,
which would enrage the animal so he
would rcsr, jump, and perhaps throw
the rider and got away, and form hab
it that it would 10 hard to break him
Of Never allow yourself 10 g, t angry
with your team, more especially with
colt; be sure and gam his sympathy.
Let him know that you are his friend,
md you cannot only teach him to
'ome tyour call, but follow you any
shere. But I see this communication
. getting too long to pursue the sub
ect farther. I may say something
more on the subject 10 . future num-
her; but the same gentle trcatme. t
lolds good in all you have to do with
he colt.-[Correspondent American
SAnnl Ionrnal