Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-06
The fartn aud firesiae.
HOW TO HALTER BREAK A COLT.

HOW TO HALTER BREAK A COLT,
When the colt is three weeks old, or there.
abouts, he should be broken to the halter,
and 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
as to convey clearly and decidedly mans
superiority, and his inability to contend with
him. Early impressions in the case Of ami
mails, as truly as in the case Of children, are
lasting; and here and now, in this first step
in educating the colt, the impression should
be indellbly stamped upon his mind that man
is his master. And this can and should be
done without violence or cruel force. l will
explain my method of treatment, and the rea-
sons therefor. Inquire, then, what the groom
or educator of the colt 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 him by the halter. In the second
place, he proposes to show the colt that ne
cannot successfully resist him that he is not
so strong as man. This lesson once taught
the colt, this impression once fairly imbedded
in his mind, he will never after, in all his life,
forget it. He will live and die with the idea
in bis head that man is stronger than he.
And this is most valuable lesson for colt
to learn, and to learn early-it saves much
after-labor and many risks. Well, then to
the method: l put head halter on, made OF
soft material, so that it will not cut into his
tender skin, and 80 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-I 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, saying
all the time, while the pressure on him is be
ing increased, "Come, sir; Gomez Some
times the colt will come, yielding to the pres
sure; in 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 aud the kind command
In many cases | have found this enoug :;
and the colt was "halter broke" 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 Gas
he regards it) rude interference with his liber-
ty, he would "set back" upon the halter,
resisting the pressure with all his strength
When this is the case, stand frm-simply
hold your own. Don't twitch him, or "yank"
him about, or drag him forward violently
Let him pull Every moment is exhaust
ing his strength, and increasing the pain he
feels by reason of the halter bands being
draw into him. and, after few seconds Of
resistance, discouraged, and unable to endure
the pain his own effort is causing him, he will
give one great wrench, rear up, and plunge
toward you. The pressure and the pain are
remitted and standing by your side, your arm
ting him, he learns this sweet lesson-that
nearness to the one that is leading him means
absence of pain. This once understood by
the colt, he is thoroughly halter broke. With
this he has also got another idea-that you
are stronger than he. Had you tied him to a
post, and let him "pull it out" as the phrase
is, he would have got no such idea-the post
or tree, not man, would have been his mas
ter. Or, had you waited until he was year
or even six months old, he would have been
stronger than you and he would have found
it out too. In his match first against man, man
would have been beaten. He, not you, would
be the master, at the halter exercise at least !;
and, while he might have followed you after
a time, still you would have lost the opportu-
nifty of impressing him with his powerlessness
when arrayed against man, which wise ed
ucator 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 un
til they are three or four, or even five years
of age! "Children," says thoughtful writer
"are made obedient before they are old
enough to talk" anu colts, it might be add
ed, are made obedient to man, if properly ed
ucated, long before they are old enough to
use in harness. Now and then, the colt, il
he be of high spirit and lusty, will struggle
long, and make real Eight over it," and,
to avoid accidents in case that he should reel
and fall, select for the school ground spot
of soft greensward, free from stones, in order
that his falls may be harmless to him.. Be
sure also, in case of falling, that you keep
his head from striking the ground heavily ;
which you can always do, because your hand
is on the halter, by which it can be support
ed This, in brief, is the manner in which |
give my colts their first lesson in that course
of education, which, when completed, has
brought them to that degree of intelligence
and docility at which they can be ridden
without bride or halter; driven without reins,
hold-backs, or breeching band; and find their
JOY in serving me, as find mine in watching
and caring for them.-Rev. w. 81. MURRAY.
. D
DIvERsIFYING Products FOR Success
Some principal reasons why system Of mix
ed farming, which includes the raising of
stock largely, is surer and more profitable, is
that thus the farm is kept up to its original
fertility, and, often to increased fertility
These farmers never make an entire failure in
crops, however bad the season. His fat
stock gives him cash returns twice year if
necessary; once in the spring from winter
feeding, and again in the autumn from pas
turage. In the case of sheep, this gain is
added to by the wool sold in the summer.
His dairy and poultry yard will furnish no
small sum during the spring, summer and
autumn. The milk, butter and cheese, and a
we'll kept vegetable garden, will furnish one
half the living of the family. These rules,
as stated, are general ones. They will apply
to all sections of the country, north, south,
east and west, being modified only by climat
ic conditions and the adoption of certain ami.
mails and plants to climate. The rule will
apply always. The farmer who raises the
greatest variety of crops or animals which
his soil is capable of sustaining is, all things
considered, the best and most successful.