Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-10-17
agricultural,
The Importance Of Educating
Horses.

Notwithstanding much has been said
and written on the subject Of breaking
colts and handling vicious horses, and
such men as Rarey, Williams, Magner,
and others have been all over the country
and demonstrated to all the superiority
of science and skill in handling horses
over the old method of pounding and
whipping them-still there are a great
many who vet stick to the old custom of
forcing them into submission by kicks
and blows, and who think that all that Is
necessary to enable a man 20 break 4 colt
well is to have plenty OF courage, strength,
and a loud voice and when they COM
mence to break colt hitch him up and
try TO drive him before he is accustomed
to the feeling Of the harness or knows
anything abOu, the use of the bit or rein;
and if he does no; move right of before
he has been taught TO 20 he Is whipped;
il he does not mind the rein the lash is
laid on if he Stumbles on rough ground
he is "whaled if be whOas too soon
when told 10 whoa he : kicked. and If
he resents this cruel treatment the above
is repeated. The consequence Of such
improper management Is frequently some
kind of Scrape. in which the colt Is
taught his first lesson in kicking or baul-
king,o perphsps he runs away and receiv-
es a scare which il will take years 10 get
over. On the other hand, should the
colt, As Is sometimes the case. prove to
be tractab.e and not make any resistance.
his owner, after driving him a few times
and getting him 50 he can drive him and
not get upset, vii. call him broke,
when he i, IN reality, not half driveab!e,
and 50, not being taught, he never learns
anything more only what he learns from
ordinary driving. This manner OF hand
ling colts accounts tor the many badly
kicking and FESTIVE horses We have, and
also for the vast number Of awkward ur-
handy. and stupid bIu,cs which We see
driven every day. Now although aImos;
any man can break colt after l fashion,
there are but few competent to educate
a colt as he should be- \ man TO sue
ceSsfully handle and educate horses and
colts, should in the fr>; place bc natur-
q. horsemau, AMI be possessed o. that pc
cuiiar knack without which no one can Ice
4 first class trainer. la the second place,
he should have an unlimited stock Of
patience, and be able 20 control himself
on all occasions for man that cannot
control himself cannot control . horse.
Besides, man should bt posted in his
business, and DC familiar with all the dit
ferent systems Of horse training. as
taught by the most successful horse train
ers. lie should also be . man possessed
Of a kind heart, capable Of inspiring con-
hdenee in the animal he Is handling.
Now if there was IN every town man
with these requisites, and he should break
all Of the colts raised in his town, the
useful qualities ofthe horses OF the coun-
try would be greatly increased, and there
would not be SO many accounts in the pa
pers Of broken ribs aud bruised heads.
caused by horses running or kicking.
hope the day will soon come when every
one shall realize the Importance OF more
thorough system Of educating horses and
when schools shall be established al over
the land for in,tructing competent men
10 educate and handle horses; when such
horses As now require a strong man 10
drive and control them, shall be rendered
kind and docile, and be driven with safety
and pleasure, and even without bit or
rein, when competent veterinary surge
Ons shall take the place Of our country
boss doctors, and the many diseases to
which horse flesh Is heir shall receive the
attention which they deserve; when the
law for the prevention Of cruelty 10 AMI
mails shall be enforced in every instance
OF Its violation and the offenders punish
ed as they deserve.
When these things are realized. and
not before, viii mans best friend and
most faithful servant, the horse receive
that treatment % which his services emit.
tie him, aud Instead Of being oyerwo.kci
starved, and beaten by >-me, and used as
means Of gambling and cheating by
others, he shai! by proper care aud IT.
tention together with judic;eus breeding.
and especially Ii thorough education,
be made enc OF the greatest blessings ever
given by the Creator for the benefit Of
man Maine Farmer.