The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-03-09

would not breed from an unsound
stallion on any terms whatever, and the
same might be said of the mare. An
unsoundness of the wind, or any disease
OF the breathing organs, are more to be
stunned than any other. A very able
English writer says: Roaring or un-
| sound wind crops out more frequently
in the offspring than any other disease"
| My observation shows me he is nearly
right, and breeders to expect the best
results must breed from sound parents.
| The foal after it comes into this world
should not be neglected for momers :;
the mother should have the very best
of food and care, and the young one
should be taught to eat just as soon as
possible; for there has never been a tru-
er saying that "the best part of horse
goes down his throat" and to get as
much wholesome food down his throat as
possible should be our aim. There is no
danger of OVERRIDING this matter, if the
colt has his liberty, he will take plenty
of exercise to keep the cas- from doing
him m, and you all m,y be very sure
that for one that is hurt by too much
food, there are hundred ruined by too
little. So don't forget to feed the young
ones. Feed late and early and all
the time, for everlasting vigilance is the
| price of a trotter." When the foal is to
be weaned, and L should say six months
is the right age, the mother and it
should be put where it is intended to
stay, a week or two before weaning and
| both fed together until the little fellow
/ gets familiar with everything around
| him, ard then move the mother, and if
possible move her to where she and the
| fOal cannot hear each other, and you
will be surprised to see how soon he will
| forget her and be content. If you wish
| to wean in a stable, put both in a stable
| together for a week before; or if you
| wish to wean in field or pasture, put
both in the place where the foal is to be
kept, and feed them there, and then, as
l have said, move the mother, if posi-
bic, out of hearing. The little fellow is
so much happier where he is well &C
quainted than if put in a strange place,
and then the mother, if taken away, he
will almost 90 frantic And right here,
if the education of the foal has not be-
gun, should begin. He should get on a
nice fitting head halter, with a rein that
can be taken of, and taught to lead and
stand tied.
Further than halter breaking / have
never thought necessary during the first
year. The fall aad winter after wean-
ing they should have all they will eat,
and on every dry day they should run
out in the fields and take all the exer-
else they will For plenty of food and
plenty of exercise are equally neces- |
sary to accomplish the best results.
There is no process, not even the starv- |
ing process, that 1 think move injuri- |
Gus to the colt than over feeding, with |
= l., V,s.Nt
grow and develop without plenty of gal |
the fields in good weather they will run
and play.
After the foal has become q yearling, |
the attention (and by attention L sim
ply mean plenty to eat and a comfort |
able place in bad weather) should rot
for moment relax. Plenty to eat and |
plenty of room should still be the watch |
word; and at this age, during January, |
February and March of the second year |
rye, barley or wheat is a great advan- |
tage to the youngster; keeps his system |
cool, his heels from becoming sore from
fever and him an appetite for his grain. |
If his engagements require an early APP
pearance in public, he should in the late
summer or fall be broken to harness, in
fact, 1 think it best, safest, cheapest and |
easiest to break all colts the fall after |
they are year old, whether they are en-
gagged or not They are nct so hard 20 |
handle, consequently not so liable to in
jury from accidents.
There is no mystery about breaking
colt; a great deal of patience, with
reasonable share of common sense is all
that is necessary. In the first place, get
him so he is not afraid of you or the at
tendant. In the second place, get him
so he is not afraid of harness, and the
thing is more than half accomplished.
1t is fear and not vice that causes
trouble. When your colt is not at all
afraid of you or the harness in the sta
BILE, then take him out in the lot with
it and let him walk around for half an
hour or an hour, each day, until he
seems not to mind the straps and breast
chain, and then you may hitch him. L
think by the side of gentle strong
horse is much better. They will nearly
always start off with a companion,
where they would not know how to
go alone.
My plan has been to start them right
off in gallop on a track, and by the
time they have gone half mile or
mile, they are tired and willing to trot
along gently by the older horse. Drive
only little while each day, and not far.
When you have driven your colt double
until he seems perfectly at home, has
learned to start and stop, and stand as
desired, then you may learn him 30 drive
single; and my advice would be 10 put
a boy or man at his head and another
at the end of the lines, without any We
hicle, and teach him to go ahead first
Don't try to teach too many things at
Once.) When he goes pleasantly forward,
then pull gently on the right or lett
line, as you may wish, teaching him 10
go to the right or left. If he should not
the line, the man at his head
who has had the word from the driver,
will assist in making the move by push
ing or pulling the bit in the desired
direction.
1t will surprise you how soon they
will learn, and how willing they seem TO
be, provided they dOI't get too much of /
it at once. They will soon learn TO go {
without the boy at the head, and the
driver can teach them TO start, stop and
stand with but very little trouble.
/ have failed TO mention in what
haye said about breaking, the refining up
Of the head. Well, if il could never be
done, it would be a great thing for the
future. l do say, without fear Of con-
that refining up young things,
while being broken, is productive of
more evil than any one can imagine.
They never should be reined up at all
until they learn to drive. Put on a rein
if you wish, but only have it tight
enough to keep the head from being put
TO the ground. 1t annoys them if tighter
than this, prevents them starting kindly,
in many instances inclines them 70 rear,
with danger of straining the hooks and
back when they rear, and, in my opin-
ion, should never be frightened until la
ter in life. When they have any blood
in them, or any style about them at all,
the head will be carried naturally up,
and, then, little gradual assistance
from the bearing rein may be poftable.
The colt now being used 70 the har-
ness, 70 lines over his back, ~ the dri-
yer behind him, may be hitched to We
hicle, light one preferred.
Lead him out on the track or road,
turn his head down grade If not too
steep, and never start him up hill at
first; put the shafts quietly on him.