Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-19
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Education of the Horse.

Education OF the Horse.
1t is remarkable that, in n country
like America, where the services OF
the horse are i'll SO much demand
both for labor and pleasure, so little
should be known or attained toward
his thorough education. That the
horse is susceptible of 4 high degree
of training and culture, is evidenced
not only by the astonishing teats he
performs within the arena Of the cir
Gus, but also the great ease with
which he can be made to modify his
natural habits and instincts to meet
the varied requirements Of his occu.
patton and surroundings.
The wild horse of the barren STEP
pes of Russian Tartary, becomes, un-
der the careful and persistent tutor
age of the warlike Cossack, the
wonderfully active, intrepid and re-
nowned irregular cavalry of the Don.
The great endurance of the Arab
horse under privation and fatigue, is
due, not SO much to any peculiarly
of constitution as to the system of
training adopted to develop these
characteristics. SO with the Toorky,
a semi-Arab blooded horse used by
Silks and Atghans of Central Asia
trained with a special view to
swimming, their riders are enabled to
plunge fearlessly into the rapid rivers
of that country confident that their
steeds will carry them in safety to the
opposite bank.
The education of the horse to be
effectual, must commence when Il
foal, and continue until he arrives at
a workable age. The prevalent Gus
tom of allowing the colt to grow up
until he has reached his third or
fourth year without handling, has a
baG and lasting effect upon the future
usefulness and docility Of the horse.
Running in a comparatively wild state
through pasture and barnyard until
his owner thinks him strong enough
f; work, the unfortunate animal has
not the slightest notion Of what is re-
quired of him, assumes the defensive
in the process of breaking which in
evitably results in the almost total
destruction of his spirit and temper,
thus rendering him stubborn, vicious
and Enthusiastically.
Like the elephant, the horse-es-
pecially when colt-never torgets
an injury, and every punishment is an
injury to him the reason for which he
does not understand. It's, therefore,
very important that in teaching him
his duty, the utmost gentle css be
u>cd in order to retain his natural
spirit, good temper and AMBITION
Usually the so-cHlled method of
breaking the horse is not teaching
him his duty but simply the breaking
and crushing his spirit till the noble
animal does not possess the ambition
of an OK. The reverse OF all this is
the result of careful, gen
tie and early training, and We're the
owners of horses to train themselves
omewhat in gentleness Of manner
md mildness of temper, the benefit
10 the public would be great, and the
\ icious and stubborn horse would
become the exception as it is now the
rule.
Gentle handling should be com
me. ced almost as soon rs the toal is
born, for the reason that at that time
he is most susceptible Of impressions,
favorable or otherwise, and it is a
fact woi thy of notice and rcmen-
brance that if a colt is struck blow
At this early stage of his life, you in
sure q kicker and an animal it will
never be safe to approach without
due precaution. Early impressions
ire as lasting in animals rs in chill
lren, al d the usefulness Of the future
colt depends as much upon judicious
raining as the success of the man
depends upon the educational bent of
MS youth.
When the colt is four weeks old,
ne should be broken to the halter,
which should he made of light ma
:erial and fitted properly to his head
so that it can he enlarged at pleasure
Is the animal increases in size. This
.ct should be done with great gen
,leness; any roughness on the part
If the man will never be forgotten
oy the colt. This is the first step in
he animales education, the first i'm
preston he receives Of the fact that
nan is his master, and if the opera
ion is performed without violence,
ne also learns that his master is not
his enemy hut his friend.
l have found it good plan to
cave the halter Oh the head of the
colt day or two at time, until he
becomes accustomed to wearing it,
The leading rein can be unclasped
from the halter when the halter is
eft on the animal. Leading with
the halter is the first and only act
that must be done IN the way of
the colt until he reaches his
first year at which time instruction
in his PAGES should be the business
Of his educator. L. G., in Pro-
yressive Farmer.