Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-20

A~E0"utAWk wv W hAhNnh NHhNs
This is the most valuable property in the
gait of a horse for the farm, whore nearly all
the work has to be done on a walk A horse
that is a good stopper will do from a quarter
to n third more work than n slow walker, and
he will do It with the same case, as it is his
natural gait, aud with proportionalely less
expenditure of energy that is, the work
will be done with less expense Of food and
waste of flesh for an equal amount of work.
Then there is 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 it
matched in gait as nearly as possible. The
pair will work so much the better, whether
fast or slow walkers. OF all things, avoid
coupling fast stopper with slow one.
Whore thus united, the good horse will fret,
and mischief may result to his gait and his
temper. Gait is hereditary, yet, like other
qualities of nature, it may be greatly i'm
proved by training, especially il begun in
the colt. l have long wondered at the APP
parent indifference on this subject. Is it
that the value of walking gait has escaped
notice, or that it is considered unworthy OF
attention or incapable of improvement? As
we'll say a running or trotting gait cannot be
improved. We have quality here to be de-
veloped which is of far more value than the
sporting qualities of the horse.
What the farmer wants, and what the team
ster and drayman will not object to, is a
| good, strong walker. Such horse is not
| lazy, aud less likely to be au awkward or
stumbling horse. He lifts his feet and puts
/ them down well. There is no drag in his
| gait, as with slow, shutting or creeping
| brute. A good walker is usually possessed
| of some spirit. This is necessary to sustain
| his gait, if he is to become serviceable. It
! is also an advantage in his training, requiring
| little more than restraint to prevent him
| from breaking his walk Beginning with
leading the colt to halter as soon as he has
| the use of his feet well, before he gets Seca5
toned to break, his walk may be readily i'm.
| proved and the habit after awhile established,
| if he is Of tIactab.c deposition. IT, while
running with his dam he should, in his caper
ing, get into trot or run, it will not seri-
| ously affect his halter habit, or later on, his
practice in the traces Neither does his
walking practice interfere with his trotting
which, during the course Of the former, may
also be INDUCED and improved. But LEI
each be kept distinct for the time, so as &c
secure an impression. The colt will soon
! learn to know what is wanted aud il proper
]
should be, tractable, intelligent and sufficient
| ly spirited to carry out what is intended Il
awkward or stupid he 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 patience and control OF
! his temper may be trusted to undertake the
work. 1t is all the better if he be the owner
of the colt. Not that he will succeed in
| full development, but he is pretty sure to Sc
far improve the value of his horse as to pay
well for the effort, and it needs but little i'm
| provement to do that when the long service
| of the horse-some twenty years or more
| with good treatments considered. At first
lead your colt by the halter. Gradually in
crease his speed Here will occur the great
est difficulty, through the eagerness of get
ting him advanced. BY urging him too mucl
| he will break, and frequent breaking, becom
ing itself a habit, will antagonize what it il
intended to promote. Patience with time. i
required, and it is the only way. The colt il
to have his walk so gradually advanced tina
he does not become aware of it. When the
colt becomes stronger and an advance ha
been made in its gait so that leading it be
comes too much of task, mount the mar
and couple the young ono with its dam. Thi
will accustom it to being paired and kept IL
place The training to walk requires nj
such exertion as applies to trotting or run
ming The exercise may therefore, be NOR,
frequent and of longer DURATION but mus
necessarily be mild at first and decided
throughout, giving the colt to understand tina
you are its master, but kind master
If there is better way than this let it b
employed, for the advantages within reacl
here should no longer be ignored The thin
is to get it started. 1t was SO with trotting
the possibilities of which were not know
till thorough test had been made, and tn
result surprises us all. The walking gait
in the interest of farmers. No excitemen
attaches to it as with trotting and running
which are sustained by the excitement 1t
a matter of business only, and may be classe
with farm improvements. r. g., in Com
tl'U EeutLe1n1n