The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-11
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Breaking the Colt.

Many a fine horse Is ruined before it
becomes horse at all, and the owner
can charge his loss upon the misman-
agement of the colt at time of breaking.
We have seen colts, after remarkable
patience with the stupidity or vicious
ness of those breaking them, at last re.
sort to kicking or baking, through fear
or in self-defense, and in many cases the
defect is lasting.
a very great mistake is to permit the,
colt to run wild from the time it is
foaled until it reaches the proper age
for breaking. 1t is not uncommon to
find colts that are as wild as hawks, be-
cause they, have never been even fon-
died, much less familiarized with the
'toucfhf Of any part n harness. Very
naturally Slcf afoolt is handled with
difficulty aud danaet when the attempt
to break ,itisemade Such u result is
utterly inexcusable, for it is rather q
pleasure than otherwise to .famiiarize
the colt with being handled. and he ac-
complishing of that object should be be-
gun at once, and the breaking of the
colt, in the proper sense, should be
commenced as soon as it is weaned.
That is to say, it should be aecustomed
to the halter, to being led about, and
even tied up for short periods. The sur
cingle can be applied; anything that can
be done without injury to the colt to &C.
custom it to the tonch OF harness should
be done, gradually of course, for not
only would nothing be gained by doing
every thing At once, BUT the irritation
that would be caused might be injurious
to the young animal Afterthe first year
the breaking should be more in earnest.
The colt csh,thshibe; bitths tcare being
taken to select much smaller
bit than lis : generally used and
one that will not hurt the animals
mouth. A wooden bit is good
thing to commence with. When he has
become accustomed to the bit, which he
will in a few days, it is advisable tc
fasten ropes to it, and extend them to a
loose girth over the back, attaching
them thereto. Thus harnessed he may
be driven as it were over q field
the trainer pulling the ropes OCCASION
ally. Portions Of the harness can b
very soon plaeed UPON hi,n, ahdl by tn
time the colt is really old enough fo7
I've hs ], u! b )?EsttX A ta,3"g:hi
In handling colt, or. for that NATTER;
horse, 1--WE never waatn f0rget our fits
duty is to gain the ahfmal's confidence
and, in tho na4t, place, that the ami
NAL can hot do ahytf'i,fgif'it does no
understand what is wanted of it. Al
incompetent trainer attempts to Undue
the animal to do certain thing, AM
because it does not. understand what i
required OF it and consequently can no
do it, the trainer flies into a passion, tn
animal becomes excited, loses contidenc
|, both in itself and in the trainer, and grea
e injury Is done: aa1aonssiiss-t'ss,handl
4 a horse, much, less a;qol!, who, has no
I lust ay muth ipathhte' as Actmpeter
teacher has with a child. He shon'
prpdeed /1stI asl a taehey proceed:
5 The teacher explains and explains, unit
: the idea is grasped, and if the child
, very stupid so much more patience
e necessary 'and giveh. 'hi 'n"'na
a But how frequently we hear me
swearing at a horse or lashing him, b
cause he does not do what he does NJ
y understand. A man that will whip
h horse 4adar. such circumstances. is foo
) ish epspgh ,to. syear at,a tree because
$ does Ndt 3f1lkKHA he lalls it to. Ii "
keansnot be gentle and patient we ha'
= 40 business to itduch aecOlt, ,whatevt
g else we may think ourselves cempcte'
! I'd tt@in,, A writer upon the horse b;
: truly said That trainer needs but tire
l requsites--firmness, steadiness and p;
!. tience. Western RurI.