The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-06-17
Colt Training.

COlC Training.
The object in training the colt is to
produce dexterity in his movements.
He is conditioned to perform more la :
Dor with less injury in the same time.
Exercise, skillful sweating and whole
some food are the agents to increase
the natural powers of the horse Arti-
fetal cultivation is the process by which
speed, stoutness Iand endurance are
conferred. The art of training pro-
duces change in the physical organs
and vital forces. It expands the air
tubes, clears the wind, hardens the
muscles, invigorates the body, increas-
es the circulation Of the blood-the
vital fluid that contributes to the force
of action To bring the horse to the
highest condition, to stand the utmost
exertions, constitutes the art of train
ING
1t requires patience and kindness to
teach the colt to keep up the utmost
exertions, or stay the distance. If he
should be abused or oveltasked he will
become discouraged, quit, or bolt the
track in self-defense. Any bad habit
once acquired would injure his pros
poets and diminish his future value
Young colts have speed, but are de-
ficient in staying qualities. There is
no objection to teaching them to show
what they have got, provided the dis
lance is limited down to their ability
to perform without distress. He must
be kept i'll spirit to do his work cheer
fully when called upon. He may do it
with all his might, but must have
something left in him. 1t must not be
all driven out of him. If you break
his heart, there will be nothing left
worth preserving. The young colt
wants to be encouraged to establish a
good pace with perfect true undeviat-
ing action to insure speed. When he
shows a clean, open, perfect stride,
let well enough alone. If the driver
forces the colt over himself, he Will
naturally contract the habit of hitching
and hobbling, and he will lose the ad
vantdge os a trotter. Shippers seldom
stay well if they are not ruled out.
When. Flora Temple made her best time
she never made skip. Dutchman
made the best three miles on record
without leaving his feet.
Square trotting is worth more than
buck jumping, shutting, or any other
mixed gait known in the annals OF the
turf 1t takes longer to break up a
habit than it does to learn it, The
value of the colt is determined by his
superior speed and beautiful action.
The pace is established or greatly i'm
proved in the act of breaking in. It is
important that the trainer should I'M
derstand the art OF tanning the colt and
fixing his pace, for upon this depends
his future usefulness.
Biting, to soften the mouth and
supple the neck, is the first process to
tame the colt. The head should not
be left strained up long at one time
without being let down to rest at the
! first onset. 1t makes a more sensitive
and pliable mouth If left strained up
all day there is danger of making the
sabject hog mouthed. After biting
| the wild colt at successive intervals of
80 minutes for twa or three days, his
neck may be supplied band exercise till
| he yields implicit obedience to the bit,
ana viii turn, go back or forward, at
the slightest indication of the hand.
The trainer is then master of the sit
uation. He can then drive him In the
| harness without load till he becomes
as docile as lamb. To save time, he
can hitch him up with well-broken
! horse, who will help break him, and
will teach him by example to draw at a
load. ii the youngster IS not over
| loaded or disheartened by repeated
/ provocations from ill-tempered drivers,
! he Will be true as steel. Colts are not
naturally vicious. Their first impulse
is to obey the commands of their sup
errors. 1t is only after desperate eff
forts to break away from the wantOn
| infliction of brutal drivers, and avoid
the abuse of good will by untutored
/ ignorance, that the horse shuts up III
self-defenSe and refuses to work.
Vice is encouraged by the bad pas
sions of men. To remove the effect we
must remove the cause. Kindness is
the weapon to conquer the most OBJ
stinate of the brute creation. Animal
instincts are controlled by the force of
mind We must appeal to the noblest
sentiments of the human heart to coe-
| troll the noblest of beasts, In room OF
attempting to govern him by the
! basest passions of the human heart