Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-09-09
Treatment Of Colts.

WE are in constant danger of harming
our horses in. our colts. A colt is ten.
der ]; it is not yet grown, but growing, and
dition which we find in q mature horse
Hence there is chance of bending OF
permanent malformation. Hard labor,
before maturity, is one of these causes,
and prolific one; horses will be bent,
crippled; their bones are not in their
proper, natural shape. The ligaments in
son, etimes by hard straining are so far dis
torted or prevented from firmly holding
the bone, that there will be permanent
loss in the capacity of the animal, Mus
Giles are overstrained, and will become in
durated, stifened, and they will never &C.
quire the use they would have had had
the proper treatment been given. We
thus hurt our colts, because they are ten
der; zoe form them, but we malform them.
A colt should not be worked hard until it
is five years of age. The bones are then
hard, and the ligaments In their place
and firm. But there should be some eX-
ercise, This will strengthen and enlarge
the muscles in a word, develop the ami
NAL. Kind handling and moderate exer-
else from birth up to maturity, with dis
elimination in treatment, make your
horse, and make him good one, if he is
not hereditarily dwarfed and vicious,
Abuse and hap-hazard treatment will
lessen what good qualities he may have
inherited. ara.isg
Overlooking with any kind of food,
particularly with grain, is one CT the worst
evils that can befall a colt. What he wants
is growth, not fat, not mettle, artifcially
infused or awakened. This is premature
call on the future strength, lessening the
capacity for that strength.
Good, tender hay and grass are the
feed, winter and summer, for colt, varied
little if desired, but not with grain. A
little corn or barley may be given where
the hay is poor, over-ripened or il-cured.
Thus a colt should grow, reserving its
strengthened grow into tractabillty as
well, the whole thing being carried on,
growth and tuition, till at the proper age
you have horse in limb and in training.
You then stand chance to have sound
horse-a well-developed, kind and tracta-
BILE one that you can rely upon. And this
treatment kindness and care) is to be con-
tinued At six and seven, and thence for
many years, your horse will bea servicea-
BILE animal, an instrument trained to order;
and you are the one that should drive him
and keep him; no one will get the good
out of him that you will. And he will
last half as long as you will, beginning
your career at manhood.
But never over feed, never over-do,
never abuse because you may be passion
ate, never overhead, nor expose to the
cold after heating; and keep out of the
cold rains. Treat well, but do not pam
per treat as horse, with strength yet
kindness. III
As we have said, the food should be
simple-good, clean hay, not over-ripe-
not ripe at all, save now and then little
given for a change. This with oats and
occasional bran mashes, with a little crop
ping of grass in summer, is all your horse
needs, is the best you can give him. Then
treat well; use the curry comb and blanket
when sweaty, and put in the stable; have
soft bed for his feet, and for his body to
lie on. Then you will have what you
will be proud Of; what you will have an
affection for-wIlat you have had all
along, or you would not have succeeded
as you did in bringing up and maturing
such good horse, and one that is mem
Der of the family at the barn, where your
thoughts often are-where you will often
go to visit what is reliance on the farm,
and such a good, staunch, kind, continu-
GUS one.
If the food is simple, the treatment
should be the same; this will avoid con-
fusion. Never contradict yourself to your
horse; use decision at al times; let him