Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-20
Training q Colt.


an animal, says correspondent of the
Country Gentleman, is to begin at birth.
1t is then readily managed, as there is
no acquired habit to be overcome. The
important point to be kept in view is to
teach him what you want him to know,
and only that. In order to do it sue
cessfully two things are necessary
kindness and decision; these must
never be lost sight Of Let the colt
know you mean we'll in the start and all
subsequent handling. And in direct
ing him give him to understand
that there is no other way than
yours, and he aill soon be mada
to respond to the gentle, yet firm,
pressure. Let your society be among
his first impressions. Pass your hand
softly over him and pat him, but do not
tire him. Repeat your visits at first
at short Intervals. You will thus, in
his mind, be coupled with his mother
and share her familiarity and also the
sense of protection. If you secure his
attachment and reliance upon you, you
will have laid the basis for all your
work. When leading the mother put a
halter on the colt also, so as 10 get
him used to it and give an idea of res
straint. Continue this in the stable.
In the use of the halter care must be
exercised 30 as to avoid rashness and
undue severity. But always maintain
your frmness with him; never yield in
what you undertake. being sure you
undertake only what is necessary, and
what has previously been determined
upon. But have confidence; he is young,
and you never can handle him so
readily as now, when he is at the
feeblest and has not learned differently.
He will soon yield to your way, the
only way he will know, and all the
moro when he knows it does him no
harm. This last is important. If
harm is to come to him let it not come
from you. Make him familiar with
noises and startling approaches, first of
a mild character, gradually increasing
till the most stirring ado fails to move
him. This will prevent his shying.
Handle his feet and familiarize your
self with every part of him. Put things
on his back, light at first follow him
with a bag, and at last, when old
enough, with yourself.
Whatever is done, never lie to a colt
never contradict yourself ; he will re-
member it, and it will confuse him he
will be as apt to go wrong as right. All
uncertainty must therefore be avoided,
and the line marked out for him must
be clear to him, and to you also he
must be held steadily in until he be-
comes established in it, when he will
not wish to depart from it. All must he
done with view, among other things,
to make it as pleasant for him as posi-
BILE, with the restraint always applied
where needed, and never yielding, but
doing it in kindness and with as little
ado as possible. He thus grad
ually, and unawares to himself,
learns to do what you want of him,
and that alone, if you keep other
influences away from him. Never over
exercise him. Do not bother him with
heavier loads than he can draw il you
wish to keep him from baking. In all
that you are to do, do not lose sight Of
the important element of doing it in a
gradual way. If it is thought there is
too much to be done, let it be remem-
bered that the horse is valuable ami
NAL, and that the pains taken with him
increase this value by making him so
much the more serviceable, readily han
died and always reliable. Every true
horseman will appreciate this. If the
colt fails to respond with sufficient
alscrity, if, further, he is stupid or
awkward or of an indolent nature, sell
him you do not want him.