Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-05-24

| BITING COLTS THE WRONG Way
R"v. Mr. hurry should have the thanks
Of Mr. Bergh and perhaps even medal
from his society, for his human articles III
the Golden Rule on the education Ct colts.
Especially th, before us. on the " biting
process, in which he feelng'y describes
the cruclties Of the machne-fashon thus :
The colt is led out into yard. the . ma
chine " strapped on to his back, the bit OF
iron or steel damned into his mouth, the
check-rein adinsted, and the colt ; head
drawn suddenly up into the air, and the
trainer stands one side. The colt, Of
course. struggles and rears and plun@eS.
/ He becomes cnraged and flights the bit;
foam drops from his lips; pretty soon it is
stained with strcakings Of blood. The
iron bit. YOU see, rs he " fought it, has
grated over the young teeth, cut into the
tender tongue, and lacerated the @uW>
and lips We have seen all this done in
less than two minutes after the biting
machine has been adjusted The Ic-
suits are unnecessary pain, spelling the
colts mouth ill the wounds can heal,
Sourin@ the colts temper. and teaching
him nothing. Then the machine is left
on the colt stands an hour; perhaps five
hours perhaps Ill day. For the first five
minutes he strives to keep his head up,
and the bit loose in his mouth, because it
pains him but. pretty soon, the head says
the pain in the overta>ked muscles of the
neck is greater even than that caused by
the pressure of the bit Little BY little. tho
head DROPS; heavier and heavier the
weight Of it is laid upon the bit; and, in
the course Of an hour OF two. the colt
stands weary and stold, the weight of his
head and neck laid soli'lv down upon the
bit. The colt is being taught you see, to
take the bit with Il vengeance. He is
actually being educated TO " hog on the
bt. and be Il butler. No method of bit
Ting can be more vicious or vilianou> than
lhi-. inficting rs it does, torture on the
innocent Victims and. in not Il few cases.
ACTUALLY putting the animal beyond the
reach Of future bcttermcnt,
The TEtE WAY TO BIT 4 COIT pro-
cccl> hurry. is not to bit them ut all
that is. let him bit himself When our
c"ls are one wear DID, we begin TO teach
them TO hold II bit in their mouth. The
bit Is of pine, some half inch in diamr-
ter. and five inches in length. This piece
of soft wood is held in the mouth by a
cord tied to either end, and passing over
the head back Of the ears. The colt loves
to have this in his mouth because it en-
tblcS him to bring forward the tccthing-
process. He will bite it. and work it over
in his mouth. and enjoy it hugely, He
will actually reach out and open his mouth
for is as Il trained horse will for a bit
After Il few days vou can tie strings max
ing miniature rcins to his bit, and teach
the colt the proper use of it. When This
j. done, he i ready for the regular steel
bit. Put your bride on with a leather
bit. large and plant; throw your check
line, if your brdilc has one ttt,tchde. into
the plT->ty get into Your wagon,and drive
off, This i all the ''bitting' a colt needs
treated in this way. he will have a lively.
Welding sensational mouth. He will take
The bit bravclv when working up to hi
speed. but Weld readily to his drivers
Will. 4 horse bittcd in this sensible way
can be driven Il 40-clip with the lines held
in one hand. or be lifted over Il five
barred gate with the strength of Il single
wrist. If YOU don't believe it. try it. and
see.