The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1883-07-14
Promoting the Walking Gait.

the gait OF a horse for the farm, where
nearly all the work has TO be done on q
walk. A horse that Is q good stopper
will do from a quarter TO q third more
work than a slow walker, and he will
do Il with the same ease, as II Is his
natural gait, and with proportionately
less expenditure Of energy; that is, the
work will DO done with less expense Of
food aud waste Of flesh for an equal
amount OF work. Then there is the
ready action requiring no urging, and
the celebrity which hastens the finishing
Of the work, an important item where
the work Is crowding, as in the spring.
Besides, both man and horse are free
from worry. In making up your team,
have II matched in gait as nearly as
possible. The pair win work so much
the better. whether fast or slow walk
ers. 0f all things, avoid coupling a
fast stopper with n Slowly M Where
thus united, the good horse will fret,
and mischief may result TO his salt and
his temper. Gait is hereditary, yet,
like other qualities Of nature, II may be
greatly improved BY training, especially
II begun In the colt. | have long won
dered at tho apparent indifference on
this subject. Is II that the value Of n
walking-gait has escaped notice, or that
II is considered unworthy Of attention.
or incapable Of improvement As well
say n trotting or running gait can not
be improved. We have a quality here
to be developed which Is Of far more
value than the sporting qualities OF the
horse.
What the farmer wants, and what
the tesmster and drayman will not OBJ
ject to, il q good. strong walker. Such
q horse Is not lazy, and Is less likely to
be an awkward or stumbling horse.
He lifts his feet and puts them down
well. There Is no drag in his
gait as with a slow, shutting or
creeping brute. A good walker Is usri-
ally possessed Of some spirit This Is
necessary TO sustain his gait, II he Is to
become scrviceable. II Is also an adj
vantage in his training, requiring little
more than restraint to prevent him
from breaking his walk. Beginning
with leading the colt to halter as soon
rs he has the use Of his feet well. be-
fore he gets accustomed TO break. his
walk may be rcndily improved and the
habit after awhile established. II he Is
OF tractable disposition. II, while rum
ming with his dam, he should, in his
capering. get into q trot or run, Il will
not seriously affect his halter habit. or,
later on, his practice In the traces.
Neither does his walking practice inter-
fepe with his trotting. which, during
tho course Of the former. may also be
INDUCED and improved. But let each
be kept distinct for the time, so as TO
SECURE an impression. The colt will
soon learn TO know what Is wanted, and
II properly encouraged will respond; II
he Is what he should be. tractable, In
ielligcnt and sufficiently spirited to car
~ out what Is intended. II awkward
or stupid be Is not worth the trial.
In the absence Of a special trainer Of
colts, any man Of intelligence who feels
an interest In the matter and has pa
tience aud control Of his temper may bc
trusted 10 undertake the work. II "A all
the better II be be the owner Of the colt
Not that he will succeed In a full dcvel-
opmcnt, but he is pretty sure 10 so far
improve the value Of his horse rs 10 pay
well for the effort, and II needs but lii
tie improvement 20 DO that when The
long service Of the horse-some twenty
years or more with good treatments
considered. At first. lead your colt by
tho halter. Gradually increase his
speed. Herr will occur the greatest
difficulty. through the eagerness Of get
ting him advanced. By urging him too
much he win break. and frequent brcak-
ing. becoming itself a habit will nntag-
onize and defeat what Il Is intended to
promote. Patience, with time. Is re-
guired. andit Is the only way. The colt
Is 10 have. his walk so gradually adj
.vanced that he docs not become aware Of
h When the colt becomes stronger and
an advance has been made inits gait so
that leading II becomes too much Of a
task. mount the mare and couple the
young one with It's dam. This win &C
custom Il 10 being paired and kept IN
place. The training to > walk requires
no such exersion as applies TO irctting
or running. The exercise may. there
fore. be more frequent and Of longer
duration. but must necessarily be mild
At first and decided throughout giving
the colt 10 understand that you N Is
master. but = hind master.
II there 4 . better war than this letit
Be employed. for the advantages within
rssch here should no longer hr ignored.
me thing is 10 got II started. IL Wa
= with trotting. the possibilities q
which werc not known TIL 9 thoruugh
-, Dad been made. and the result sur
prses US all The vslking rait l. In The
interest Of farmersL No cxolsemsnt At
uscncs 70 u - with trpttirR and run.
ninf. which sre suneaIned b. he excite
ment II h . maf1rr a hn<iu~as oolv.
md may b elnr1rd With farm improve
mtnIx-G1< n1rm1vH E<ax<~-.~.