Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-26
TBeDtrmont 4benit.
BRATTLEBoRo:
FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 90, 1876.
HaIter.RreaLing q Colt.

When the colt is three weeks old, or
halter. And this should be done proper
ly; for this is the first act which brings
his will and strength in opposition TO
mans, and should be so done as to convey
clearly aud decidedly mans superiority,
and his inability TO contend with him.
Early impressions in the case of animals,
as truly as in the case of children, are last
ing; aud here and now, in this the first
step in educating the colt, the impression
should be indelibly stamped on his mind
that man Is his master. And this can and
should be done without violence or cruel
force. We will explain our method of
treatment, and the reason therefor. In
qulre, then, what the groom or educator of
the colt proposes 10 do. This evidently:
He proposes, in the first place, TO teach the
colt to follow after or by the side; that Is,
keep close to the enc who Is leading him
by the halter. In the second place, he pro-
poses to show the colt that he cannot sue
cessfully resist him; that he is not so
strong as man. This lesson once taught
the colt. this impression once fairly embed
ded in his mind, he will never after, in all
his life, forget it.. He will live and die
with the idea in his head that man is
stronger than he. And this is most val
liable lesson for colt TO learn, and TO learn
early; it saves much afler-labor and many
risks. Well, then, TO the method: We put
head-halter on made of soft material, so
that 1t will not cut into his tender skin,
and so made that the check-pieces will not
draw into his eyes when he pulls back or
struggles and when this is done quietly
and gently, with pleasant words and kind
caresses, we step out in front Of him, and
planting ourselves squarely, so that he
shall not with all his efforts move us from
our tracks, pull steadily Oh the halter, say
ing all the time, while the pressure on him
is being increased, "COme, sir, come! !"
Sometimes the colt will come, yielding
readily 10 the pressure; in which case pat
him kindly, so as to make him feel that be
has done the right thing; and then step
forward, and repeat the slight pressure
and the kind command. In many cases
we have found this enough and the colt
was "halter broke" before you knew it, as
one might say. But more often, as soon
as the little fellow felt the pressure of the
pull upon the halter, alarmed, and vexed
too, perhaps, at this las he regards iD rude
interference with his liberty, he would "set
back" upon the halter, resisting the press
ure with all his strength. When this is
the case, stand firm; simply hold your oicn.
Don't twitch him, or "yank' him about,
or drag him forward violently. Let him
pull. Every moment is exhausting his
strength, and increasing the pain he feels
by reason of the Netherlands being drawn
into him; and, after few seconds of re-
sistance, discouraged, and unable to en-
dure the pain his own effort is causing
him, he will give one great wrench, rear
up, and plunge toward you. The press
ure and the pain are RENTED; and stand
ing by your side, your arm over his mois-
tened neck, and kindly patting him, he
learns this sweet lesson ,-thdt nedTneSS to
The one that is leading him means absence Of
pain. This once understood by the colt,
he is thoroughly haiter-6roke. With this
he has also got another idea,-thdt you are
stronger than he. Had you tied him TO n
post, and let him "pull 1t OUT as the phrase
is, he would have got no such idea; the
post or tree, not man, would have been his
master. Or, bad you waited until he was
year or even six months old, he would
have been stronger than you; and he would
have found 1t out too. In his first match
against man, man would have been beaten.
He, not you, would have been master at
the halter-exercise at least and while he
might have followed you after time, still
you would have lost the opportunity OF
impressing him with his powerlessness
when arrayed against man, which wise
educator will always seek TO give to every
colt he takes in hand. How unwIse, view
ed in this light, is that neglect TO break
colts 10 the halter even until they are three
or four or even five years ofaeel "Child-
ren," says thoughtful writer, "dre made
obedient before they are old enough to
talk D." and colts, it might be added, are
made obedient to man, if properly educa-
ted, long before they are old enough to use
in harness. Now and then, the colt, if he
be of high spirit and lusty, will struggle
long, and make real Eight over it y and,
TO avoid accidents in case that he should
reel and fall, select for the school-ground a
piece of soft greensward, free from stones,
in order that his falls may be harmless TO
him. Be sure, also, in case of falling, that
you keep his head from striking the
ground heavily; which you can always
do, because your hand is ON the halter, by
which 1t can be supported. This, in brief,
is tho manner in which we give colts their
first lesson in that course of education,
which, when completed, brings them u
that degree of intelligence and docility at
which they can be ridden without reins,
hold backs or breeching band; and find
their joy in serving man as man finds his
in watching and caring for them.-GOldeH
Rule.