The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-29

Correspondence National Live Stock Journal
Colts should be halter-broken when fol-
lowing the mare; 1t helps to subdue them,
and supercedes the necessity of breaking
them over again when grown up. "Once
broken always broken, is an axiom as old
as the art of breeding. 1t is advisable to
break them to harness at two and one-half
and three years old. They will receive no
injury from careful usage in light vehicles.
The most practicable mode Of subduing
colts is to hitch them up with a well-brok-
en- horse, and teach them by example to
perform service.
The first step is to bit the colt-to make
him bridlewise. This is accomplished by
checking up the head With the
bitting-bridle. They may be turned into
the yard to run at large, taking care that
their heads are not left strained up more
than an hour at time. The head should
be left down often to give the neck rest.
1t will prevent their contracting a coarse,
unpleasant hog-mouth. After they be-
come accustomed to the bit they should be
driven in harness, without any load. for
several days, till they Weld implicit obedi-
ence to the bit, and obey with alacrity the
word Of command. They will become
comparatively broken by the simple pro-
cess Of supplying the neck, and teaching
them to stop and go forward at the will OF
the driver. They seldom offer any resist
ance when hitched to the vehicle. Pa
thence and perseverance will accomplish
wonders in horsehesh. Intelligent in
structlon improves the disposition and de-
velops the speed and endurance Of colts
essential qualities in a roadster. The
more good qualities developed when young
the greater will be the merits OF the recip-
tents. Those subjects that will do the
most work in the least time are the most
profitable to the owner. 1t costs no more
to raise the fast worker than it does the
slow mongrel. The former will perform
twice the service of the latter. The best
are the cheapest to wear out, besides there
is pleasure In using a superior animal.
Colts should be broken to harness before
they get so strong as to control the driver.
They are not perfectly developed for hard
work before they are FIVE years old. Gentle
usage at light work for one or two years
will bring them into submission. Thew
will become accustomed to different kinds
of service. and the force of habit will make
them kind and trustworthy. When broken
uuucT Tue law VI hluuucsS tucl sciuotu
contract vicious habits-they are not natu-
rally vicious; they are made SO by ignor-
ant or brutal drivers. Incompetent train
ers make balky horses. They use too much
brute force without reason or common
sense. They appeal to the lowest pas
sions in place Of intelligent instruction.
Reason is better than force to govern the
horse-kindness is the weapon to subdue
the wild colt. This humane law removes
terror, and secures the confidence Of the
colt in his driver; and so long as that con-
fidence is not abused, they will yield i'm
plicit obedience to the word of command.
When the wild colt is trained under the
law of force, he becomes terror-stricken
with fear, and fights back to relieve him
self from oppression; and having the add
vantage Of superior strength, often tri-
umphs over the trainer and contracts the
vice of rebellion This vice lives on to be
inferred with his bones.