Sharp County record., 1879-05-29
FARM TOPICS.


undergoing this particular process, on
the success of which depends his entire
future usefulness as servant of man.
AS the farmers horse is not always
broken by professional breaker, but
by himself or his man under his super
vision, few remarks on the modus
operandi may not be inopportune. The
breaking of the horse should commence
as soon as he is weaned, which is mostly
about the month of October or Novem-
Der of the first year. As soon as he is
taken from the dam and placed in his
winter quarters, a suitable head collar
should be put on him, and having
steady man for his attendant, he should
be led out regularly. Every time there
is occasion to 60 about HIM he should
be spoken to and caressed, and as soon
as confidence is inspired he should have
q partial dressing daily with a wisp.
Now is the time to bend the twig; a lit
tie attention and trouble now will be
doubly repaid when the breaking time
proper arrives. Breeders, as a rule, do
not attach sufficient Importance to this,
thinking it time enough to take any
trouble with the horse until. they
require him for work, when he is
much older, forgetting that docility
in the horse in a great measure
depends on his early attachment
to and confidence in man. The first
winter of his existence having expired,
the Young horse is mostly turned to
grass for the summer months, when
there is rarely time or opportunity to
do any thing with him until he returns
again 10 his winter quarters; but, gen.
orally, any thing that has been done
with him the previous Writer is seldom
forgotten. His education may be taken up
where left off before, and, in addition,
he may be made accustomed to part of
the breaking harness, such as the roller
and cupper; he may also occasionally
have small bit put into his mouth to
accu,tOm him to that instrument of re-
straint, but no attempt should be made
to make his mouth until the time comes
when he is to be finally broken in and
put to his work. Some farmers put the
horse to work st this age; but the sys-
tenn, at best, is injudicious, as tie
amount of work he is capable of per-
forming is insignificant and of no value
when compared with the risk of impair
ing his future abilities. The better
plan is to allow him another summers
run at grass, and on his return he can
be prepared for and put to any moder-
ate work without fear of injury. Hav-
ing returned from grass for his third
winters keep, his breaking in earnest
should commence, and the great
secret in this is that the mouth
is properly made, on the success of
which the entire tractability of the ami
NAL depends. Making the mouth Is
siwply 10 accustom it to the bit, and to
etue it with proper degree OF sensi-
bfity, so that the horse may under
stand, through the agency of the bit,
What course he is to pursue. The mouth
must not be made too hard or too soft,or
what is worse, uneven--that is, one side
hard and the other soft. A little atten-
ton will obviate those different objec
tionable forms of the mouth, which if
once contracted, are irremediable. If
the young horse has received any atten-
tim during his first and second winters,
! his breaking will be comparatively easy,
ami if he has been used hitherto with
any of the breaking appointments the
opration of mouthiDg can be proceeded
with. There are many curious and ex
penive machines for this purpose; but
god surcingle with crupper and side
buckles attached answers the purpose
veryyell, together with strong bride,
and sproper bit. There is some differ
ence 4 opinion amongst horsemen as
to theproper form of bit for mouthing
, hors; but that generally adopted now
is q plm bar bit between six and seven
inches wide and three quarters of an
inch b one in thickness. When
this BIZ is put into the mouth and
properA adjusted with the reins to
the surGngle, thehorse bears on it with
both siGs of biz mouth evenly, and
hence tire can be no unevenness OF
mouth. When tie formation of the
mouth is near completion he may be
driven illong rehs the headstall and
an assistant leadig him should not be
dispensedith untl the breaker finds
he has conplete catrol over him with
the bit. Iis is til stage where good
many mouts are poiled by thinking
to control Ne hors by the bit before
The mouth ls attaied it's due sensibili-
ty. In a slrt tim, if the mounting
process be roperll attended to, the
horse will beeady br his work, and
block of woods a sde obstacle for the
tyro to have hmaid,n pull at; but be-
fore being putt it, slould be made to
feel the weight his collar by means
of couple Of m at he ends Of pair
of cart rope8.Whel yoked first,
good precautioy measure is to pass
cart rope rou the swingle-tree to
a. 4