Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-09-10
Breaking Colts.


fare this time it may learn much, although
the main business ofits life cannot well be
undertaken earlier. From the very first,
il NAV. however, be taught to become
fearless of those around it, and made Ia
miiliar with them, and be reduced TO dis
cipliHe and If no tricks arc played with
II and il is not teased or triled with, IT
will learn to have confidence in its ewner,
and will generally grow up free from vice
and lll.temper Before it is year old,
it should be broken to the halter, taught
70 stand when tied, and to lead. These
lessons should be taught gradually, and
for a very short time on each occasion
until the animal understands exactly what
is meant. When it leads quite eashy with
out dragging on the halter, it may be
taught its PAGES. The first lesson is to
walk. Gradually the pace should be
ouiokcned, until it can walk quite briskiy.
Fer farm horse, this is the most import
ant thing to be learned. A horse that can
walk with ease four miles al hour is worth
more than two that can walk but two
miles in the same time; for it will do as
much work with half the feed as two
horses of the latter kind will perform.
There must be no hurry in all this teach
ing. but at the same time. it should be
made business of, and the lessons be Civ.
en- regularly. When it will lead steadily
the halter may be taken by the end and
the colt taught TO lead with it hanging
loosely. All the different movements
which it will have to perform in af-
ter life should be taught now, before it is
allowed to trot or run, that is if, as we
now understand, it is to be work-horse.
1t may be taught to do all this at the
word Of command as easily as an OK can
be without any need of touching the
lines. A team Of horses thus educated
are exceedingly useful on farm. and
will very much tighten the labor of plow-
ing and hauling loads. The most useful
team we ever possessed or drove was one
that would pillow back furrow across a
field and turn at the headlands without
the lines being touched, and could be used
to load logs upon wagon or sled as easily
as any yoke of exen. They had been
taught to work thus when colts. When
this has been well taught the colt may
be taught to troi. 1t should be taken by
the halter, close to the head at first, af-
forwards at the end, and encouraged to
increase its speed. by being taught at
first to go gently, it will leara to tot
without breaking up; if it breaks, it
should be stopped, brought back to the
starting-place at y walk, and made to
commence again. At this time a little
reward will DO found to encourage the
colt very much, and nothing will please it
better than a small lump of sugar. We
may here mention that colt may be
taught in this manner to come from any
part Of pasture.feld at call, and it will do
it without fail afterwards, iftau.ht at this
time. A piece ofbrcad, little salt, sugar,
or piece of apple given each time, or cv-
en- friendly pat or q carressipg word, will
be a sufficient reward to keep up the
habit. Much loss Of time afterwards will
be prevented.
The next thing is to accustom the cot to
the bride and the saddle. All bad hab.
its that would afterwards dcpreciate the
usefulness and value of the horse should
be now ''nipped in the bud" If he COM
mences to hang out his tongue. carries his
head improperly, or contract other un-
pleasant habits, they must be reformed at
once--gently and without irritating him,
but patiently and persistently. Any
strange thing should be brought up to him
sduarely in the face, SO that he may not
learn to shy, and he should be permitted
to examine it leisurely. But we have
never found when a colt has become thor
oughiy acquainted With us that i, has ev-
er shown any surprise or repugnance to
any thing We may have brought up to il
in our hand or on the arm. When conf.
deucc has been established, fear seems
not to occur unless under some extaordin
airy circumstances and they, of course
must be guarded against. A colt tina,
has been properly handled may be laugh
to stand near passing locomotive with
out showing any fear, if its owner is a
its head. But such lessons should be Civ
en- with extreue caution, and when care
fully given, although colt may be seel
to tremble when the locomotive approach
es. it will soon learn TO stand quite still
without drawing On the halter, if its own
er is near it; such confidence in its owl
er has horse that has been kindly used
After the harness and saddle can
put on without the least finching or az
prehension being shown, the colt may !
hitchcd up. 1t is not well to use bugg
at first aor anything with wheels. III
best thing is frame of light poles CT
square at the ends; two Of the pol,
should be twelve feet long and one 81
feet. The shorter pole is lbshed wi
cords across the longer poles at abo1