The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-11-26
OF COLTS.
Its Importance and How ~ Should !
Done,

ia wrong TO cause Il colt to do every
thing n horse does, at n time when u II
imperfectly developed and has pu'
feeble powers Of endurance. IL II
equally wrong to treat m animal IN
tended for the service Of man like {
wild animal till it is matured and ther
guddcnly subdue it,. Still not a few
farmers treat the colts raised on then
farms in about the same manner tht
people of Texas do the wild horses o.
their prairies. They pay no attention
to them till they are at nm age TO WORK.
when they commence to "break them
at once.
Some farmers have an idea that Q
sucking colt should go with It's dam all
the time, and that the dam should dc
the work of n mare that has no colt,
The colt is accordingly hitched by a
halter to the side of the mare, and Is
made TO 20 wherever she goes. Almost
eyery week day the colt goes to the
store, the mill, or the p~ostoilice, and on
Sundays it goes TO church. The colt Il
Taught 10 travel ut all kinds OF speed,
IRON that required to 20 for the
the doctor to that demanded in follow
ing d hcarsc. 1t il made to keep pace
with tho mare when she is drawing a
load Of stone up q hill and when the
bows are driving her to a party. The
colt is a constant attendant OF the mare,
and therefore goes We all the ground
she does.
No Young animal, from n child to an
elephant, should be compelled to be on
its feet 50 much of its time as to keep
pace with matured animals. The colt
should always have an opportunity to
stop and lio down when it wishes to,
which is very often. To cause it to re-
main on its feet continually, and at the
same time to keep up an active speed,
is.an act of cruelty that should never
be practiced. Besides this the colt is
liable to great injury by the treatment,
It's feet are too tender, it's limbs too
weak, to bear the continued strain on
them. The pulling at the halter when
the colt is fastened to the side Of the
dam is also very injurious, 1t teuds to
ininre the muscles Of the neck, lega,
and back, and in many cases produces
dctOrmities that are never OutgrOWn.
Another grave disadvantage Of keep
ing the colt constantly by the side OF
the dam, is that it causes it to be very
hard to wean. If the colt is kept from
her for some hours, it will acquire very
early the habit OF eating, so that wean-
ING will come easy. WEAVING should
ordinarily take place when the colt IS
five or six months old. The best way
to accomplish it is TO keep the animals
ut SO great a distance apart that they
shall neither see or hear each other,
A weeks complete separation is ordi.
narily long enough to make the colt
tolcrabIy we'll conteGted with its lot.
II food of a good quality be furnished,
it will learn to eat very well in this
length of time, at the expiration OF
which they may be brought together.
The colt should carly be taught the
halter and made to know that his mas
ter is his friend. 1t should be taught
to walk at Il rapid pace, TOR, If intended
for farm work, this is the gait which it
most desirable. If MS much pains were
taken to teach colts to walk fast, as
is taken TO make horses trot fast, We
should soon have a very great improve
mcnt in the work horses for the farm,
After a time the colt should be taught
two other gaits, rapid t@rotiing and the
ordinary trotting gait desired in going
tolcrably long distances. 1t is a good
PIN to exercise the colt in t%rottinl
round n circle, holding by It line. The
line should be Of good length, other
wise the colt will learn to take shor
steps.
A colt should become accustomed tC
tho bridle.bit for some time before /
harness is put on him. A harness
should be puL on and worn about before
the colt is fastened to n carriage. A
first n light carriage should be used, or
what il better, only the forward wheels
and thills. At first the colt should be lee
SO as to prevent any danger at sudder
starting ard running away. BY dc
grees II load should be given him tt
draw, care being exercised that tho
harness does not hurt. After n littl,
| practice one may with safety ride ant
drive in the carriage. Harvesting the
colt alongside of q steady horse is 1
good practice after the aforementioned
lesson, in all Of which there should bt
great care that the animal is not fa
tlQued.
Colts should be early accustomed tt
tho noise of carriages, gatea, and Other
moving things that they come in contact
with. In the training Of colts a blow
should never bo struck, or n loud or vic
lent word used. Caressing will do mort
toward making a colt obodiept than al
the whips ever made. Always carcs3
colt after performing well what was Re
Quired of him. A colt should early b,
taught to back, by standing in front o
him, drawing the reins, and speaking
the jword 'n,back." Horses will learl
the meaning of many words, ii pains BE-
taken to explain them by signs. The
earlier this sort Of teaching is common
ced The moie readily will it be learned.
The colt should early be accustomed
to the use of the brush. At first il SHOULD
not be used about the head, as it might
produce fright. If impotence is showr
by the brushing Of any part, leave il
for a time and then come back to it.
Before brushing the head gently rub il
with the hand. Avoid using, at first. d
hard brush or a curry.comb. Colts
should receive the best of care during
the first part of tho winter, if it is ex.
pected to make first class horses OF them.
A little grain will keep them fat, and
cause them to come out Of the winter in
good condition.