Daily globe., 1882-05-29
Good Way to Handle Trotttmg-Bred Colts.


WalIace'S Monthly says: Every intelligent
horseman who has attended any of the great
sales OF trotting- bred colts, this spring. has
observed that the price realized was determin-
ed largely by the action of the colt. If he
extended himself like trotter and showed a
disposition to stick to that gait, the bidding
BECAME spirited and the owner began to feel
good. Bidders may not be we'll versed in the
special merits of particular families, but it is
surprising to see how well they judge of gait.
The general public is becoming educated,
practically, in what is good and what is bad
trotting action, and about every second man
YOU meet can give you an intelligent criticism
on the action of given colt. 1t is very
long time since it was first said "there are
tricks in all trades,' but we doubt whether
the breeders generally have fully realized the
importance of the trick in their trade. We
use the word "trick" here in the sense of the
shoDman who displays his goods to the best
advantage for the purpose of attracting Gus
toners and bringing good prices. This is
entirely legitimate, and from it breeders
should not delay in learning a valuable les
son. To bring good prices at public auction
the colts must be educated and prepared to
show their ability to trot aud their disposition
to stick to the trot. This is "a trick Of the
trade" that breeders have neglected, and great
" to their disadvantage. We have seen ex-
cellent colts, with rich, standard Inherit
auce, 60 for song, merely because they had
never been taught 10 extend themselves and
stick to the trot.
Where any attempts have been made to look
after the education of the colts, the methods
adopted have generally been ineffective and
oftentimes absolutely injurious. The prac-
tice of turning colts loose in a paddock,
which is almost universal, and then soaring
them into an exhibition of their speed, either
by some noisy device or by starting a small
dog after them, is exceedingly foolish, in an
educational point of view, and constantly
subjects the animals to the dangers of injury.
Governor Stanford's plan of small circular
track, securely and safely fenced, is very
great Improvement in methods, but, notwith-
standing the measure of success that has re-
suited from it, we very much doubt whether
it is the best method. As we are in the tran.
sition period, between the instinct to gallop
and the instinct to trot, our control of the
colt must be more direct aud immediate than
any circular track, no difference how small
eau enable us to exercise. A few colts
ont of hundred that have a very strong in
s,nct to trot may be greatly benefited and
improved by the circular track, but we think
the great mass of them will need more direct
control.
When the colt is three or four weeks cid q
halter should be put on him, and by mild and
kindly treatment he will learn in the course OF
a very few days that he must obey the halter
and that it is not intended to hurt him. He
will learn this lesson then more easily and
with less danger of injury than at any Other
period of his life. There appears to be great
truth here, running through all domestic
animal nature that we should not neglect mol
forget. The younger the animal the more
impressionable and receptive it is. This ap
plies to trotting colts just as it applies to any
other description of animal, and we have full
faith that you can teach colt to trot wher
he is year old much more readily than wher
he is three or four years old. We wish Il
emphasize this truth, and with it we wish t.
emphasize the great danger of too much rorl
when the colt is so young. We should TAX
advantage of his mental reeeptiyity, but W