The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-02-08
How to ualter-isreak "A Colt,

How to Halter Break Colt.
When the colt is three weeks old or there
abouts, he should he broken to the halter, ant
this should be done properly; for this is the
first act which brings his will and strength in
opposition to mans, and should be so done rs
to convey clearly and decidedly mans supcri
orty and his inability to contend with him
Early impressions in the case of animals rs
truly as in the case of children, are lasting
and here and now, IN this first step in educat
ing the colt, the impression should be indelibly
stamped upon his mind that man is his mas
ter. And this can and should be done without
violence or cruel force will explain my
method Of treatment, and the reasons therefor
Inquire, then, what the groom or educator OF
the horse proposes to 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 one who is
leading Inn by the halter In the second
place, he proposes to show the colt that he can
not successfully resist him; lhrt he is not Sc
strong as u man. THIS lesson once taught the
colt ihis impression once fairly imbedded IN
his mind, he will never after in all his life for
get 1t. He will live and die with the idea in
his head that man is stronger than he. And
this is IA most valuable lesson for colt to learn
and to learn early 1t saves much atter-labor
and many risks. Well, then, to the method
put head-haltcr on made Of soft material, so
that it 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, | step out in
front of him, and, planting myself squarely, so
that he shall not, with all his efforts, move me
from my tracks, pull steadily on the halter, say
ing all the time while the pressure on him is
being increased; Come, sir! Gomez" Some
times the colt will come yielding readily to
the pressure; III which case pat him kindly,
so as to make him feel that he has done the
right thing, and then step forward and repeat
the slight pressure and the kind command In
many cases have found this enough, and the
colt was "halterbroke" 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 (as he
regards lt rude interference with his liberty,
he would ''set back" upon the halter, resisting
the pressure with all his strength. When this
is the case, stand tirm-simply hold your own.
Don't twitch him, or "yank him about, or drag
him forward violently. Let him pull. Every
moment is eXhausting his strength, and in
creasing the pain he feels by reason Of the hal
ter-bands being drawn into HIM; and, after a
few seconds of resistance, discouraged, and I'M
ing him. he will give one great wrench, rear
up, and plunge toward you. The pressure and
the pain are RENTED; and, standing by your
side your arm over his moisened neck and
hand kindly patting him. he learns this sweet
lessOn-that nearness to the one that is leading
him means absence of pain. This once under
stood by the colt, he Is thoroughly halter.brokc.
With this he has also got another idea-that
you are stronger than he. Had you tied him
to 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 had you waited until he was a 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 be the
master, at the halter exercise, at least And,
while he light have followed you after a time,
still you would have lost the opportunity of
impresslng him with his poWcrlessness when
arraycd against man, which a wise educator
will always seek to give to every colt he takes
in hand.
How unwise viewed in this light, is that
neglect to break colts to the halter even until
they are three or four or even five years of age
"Chidren,n SAYS Il thoughtful writer, ARE
made Obeuient before they are old enough to
talk :" and colts, it might be added, are made
obedent to man, if properly educated, long be
fore 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 a real
fight over it," and, to avoid accidents in case
that he should reel and fall, select for the
schoolground spot of soft greensward, free
from stones, in order that his falls may be
harmless to him. BE sure also, in case of fall
ing, that you keep his head from striking the
ground heavily; which you can always do, be
cause your hand is on the halter, by which it
can be supported, This, IN brief is the man
ner in which | give my colts their first lesson
in that course Of education; which, when com
pleted has brought them to that degree of in
telligencc and docility at which they can be
ridden without birdie or halter; driven without
reins, hold-bacKs or breeding bands; and find
their joy in serving me, as find mine IN
watching and caring for them-REv. W. II.
H. MURRAY, in Western Fdlmtr.