, 1877-02-17
Breaking Colts.

] three years OIu. L elbalo bbio '1 &c
good an age and time as any. After
the crops are in farmers have abou!
as much spare time as at any other
season of the year, and colts can be
handled and tanned so as TO be used
a, LIGHT work ON the farm and road
during the fore part of the sommer,
and be ready for the heavier work OF
the harvest when additional horse
help is generally needed. Before put
ting a colt into harness he should be
made thoroughly halter and bride
wise, and should bO well acquainted
with and have perfect confidence ID
his master or whosCever may handle
him. If he has not been brought up
tame so that he can be handled with
out exciting his fear, then the hrst
thing TO do is TO put him in stable
with good solid stalls, so that nothing
will break or give way in his efforts
to avoid you, and should be haltered
with a good strong halter headstall
and a rope that cannot break, When
thus stabbed and fastened let him be
groomed and handled two or three
times day till ne will show no fears
when handled and groomed on any
part of the body. Let him be thor-
onghly taught fer all Time that there
is no spot or place on him which may
not be handled al any and all times
without his fiinching or objectiug in
anv way. Let him be taught TO give
you his feet and allow you 10 thump
aud handle them with perfect tamih-
aritv as blacksmiths handle them
when shoeing.
Then put a bride on him with bit
wrapped with leather or cloth, and
then let him become familiar with
that, then a collar, then back strap,
surcingle, etc, thus adding one part
of the harness after the other until he
becomes familiar with each and every
part Of it. Teach him to lead by de-
grees, taking particular pains 20 have
him follow he halter, and also to walk
fearlessly by ;he side of his leader.
When leading him out take pains TO
handle him as fully as when in the
stable, being careful at all times to SO
keep the advantage of him that The
idea of escape from you will not enter
his head, and certainly thai he will
not attempt it. When he has become
accustomed to the biz and 10 the sey-
erai restraints You have placed upon
him, the hi ting harness may be put
upon him and his head checked up
The slightest degree for little while
at a time. THIS may be increased
from day 10 day. being careful never
TO check him up so tight or allow the
check to remain on SO long at time
as TO create so much uueaSineSs or
WEAKNESS of the muscles as TO make
him bear down on the bit and sag his
neck for rest. If you want your
future horse 10 carry a good lead
without bearing down on the bit, be
very particular about this point of his
schooling. 1t takes time and patience,
but colts cords and muscles cannot
be changed in a day, and changed
;hey must be before he will carry
proud head easily in the harness or
under the saddle Many important
changes in cords and muscles must
take place before the green colt can
make the proud, educated horse, and
these changes can only be brought
about by degrees and with plenty of
time. From the beginning let the
colt know your voice and teach him
10 understand you when you speak to
him. There is nothing that a horse
may be required TO perform that he
may not be made TO do by merely
telling him, if pains be taken in the
beginning TO teach him to give heed
u ;he human voice. This point once
fully gained over colt, and you
have more complete control over him
in emergencies by the voice than in
any other way, The biting harness
should be used not a few times or a
few days only, but a month once or
twice a day will not be too long for
bringing about the changes necessary
for good carriage When you have
complete control over the colt and
have taught him how to hold his head
and he can do il without tiring him,
let him be taught TO travel
Let the first gai: be be required to
learn be a good square and fast walk.
This may be taught him either alone
or with another horse that has himself
been well taught. Unless you have
have such horse you had better
teach the colt alone. While teaching
him this gait he should be confined
entirely 10 i: and not to be allowed to
go faster Months of daily practice
may be required to develop the top of
his speed on the walk, but the accom-.
pliShment will be worth the effort al,
ways, You have a good colt and
want TO make a valuable horse OF him.
y good colt well broken ALWAYS
makes a valuable horse, while how
ever good the colt, if not well broken,
he will never be of much value as a
horse. When you have made him do
his best as walker, and got complete
master OF hiul at this gait, then teach
him a good, square trot. Not fast at
first, but get him into such way of
handling himself that he evinces pride
and ease in going. Keep the two
galts so distinct that he will under
stand by your voice which You want
him TO do, and never allow him to do
either carelessly or lazily. Let colts
be broken on the principle of edncat-
ing them and with the understanding
that the horse has a sufficient degree