The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-03-21
The Care of n Colt.

Every farmer may rear a colt, or pair
of them. And if he will do this and
turn the colts over to his boys for their
special care, and as their property, it will
be one excellent way of interesting them
in the farm work. And in the remarks
we now propose to make we intend them
specially for the boys use. a boy and a
colt may get on very well together, for
as a rule a colt will do more for a boy
than it will for man. A boy will pet
the colt and not kick it with a rough
boot if it is little stupid at times, and
a colt knows what kindness is as well as
a boy does. The way to a colts heart is
through its mouth, and it soon learns to
love and obey the hand that feeds it or
gives it sugar. But it needs training
from the very first and will learn all the
more and all the better the sooner its
training begins. The first lesson in
training a colt is to put on a halter,
soft, easily fitting one, but it
must be strong and securely fastened.
The worst thing that can be done in the
training is to make mistakes and put the
colt off the right track. So that if a
colts halter once breaks it may teach him
to become confirmed haltcr-brcaker
when horse. After the halter had been
worn a day or two the colt should be
taught to lead by it and to be tied up.
In leading the colt it should be taught
to walk along quickly, but not to run.
Walking is the first pace to be taught,
and fast walking horse is worth a good
deal more to farmer for his work than
one that could run mile in minute
1t makes a difference of one acres plow-
inc in a week, and of mile an hour on
the road with load. The next lesson
is to teach the colt to be handled all over
TO be rubbed with a soft wisp of straw,
to lift its feet, to stand over, to back
and have its head handled. After every
lesson a little sugar should be given, or {
piece of bread with some sugar rubbed
on it. This will cause it to come to hanG
when called. which is a very important
lesson to be taught well.
Overlooking colt is very hurtful. A
first, when month old, the colt may BIZ
taught to lick little fine oatmea! with
little sugar in it. \ teaspoonful at frs
is enough, and in week it may have ;
tablespoonful. When it is three months
old few oats may be given, but no corr
or cornmcal. A pint of oats day vii
be enough for another month or two, anC
when colt is six months old it may hav,
quart day. If anything should hap
pen to the mare and young colt is lef
helpless orphan it may be reared Oh
cows milk by adding one-third warn
water and as much sugar as will make j
slightly sweet. Mares milk has abou
half as much fat and twice as much suga
in it as a cows milk and cows milk is
therefore, not healthful for a colt unlcs
watered and sweetcned. 1t is quite cas-
to teach Il colt to drink as calf does
but if it is weak at first it will suck iron
a common nursing bottle or from a small
can with spout or a coffecpot with
rag tied on the end of the spout.
The greatest care should he taken nc
TO make colt angry, and never to viii
it. In leading it it may be touched be
hind with little switch if it pulls back
and in leading it it should be held b
the halter end never by the end of
rope. as then one has better control oyo
it. Lastly, kindness, patience, and firm
ness will enable BOY to teach a coltany
thing, Just as boy knows these will eli
able man to teach a boy anything
Neto York Times.