The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-08-21
Training and Breaking Colts.

which we take the following
Mr.. Simnacher don't believe in the use
of the whip in breaking horses, but relies
on the law of kindness. Horses, be thinks,
should be trained and taught almost like
children. Occasionally, but very rarely,
he says, it is necessary to correct horse
for fault by whipping. This is only
where horse refuses to do thing that
he has done before and when you are sat
isfed the animal is acting from perverse-
ness.
A colt that has been spoiled or allowed
to kick or run away at the outset is more
difficult to break than one that has never
been handled. 1t is easier, with horses as
with children, to teach them good habits
at first than to eradicate bad habits before
the good ones are taught.
If your horse, in driving away fly, in
the stable, throws his head against you,
don't strike him over the head, and on no
account suffer your coachman or wagner
to strike one of your horses on the head.
Horses are often ruined in this way. Be-
sides the danger of permanent physical in
Jury they become so nervous that if you
approach them when tied they will pull
back and break the halter.
In breaking colt first teach him to
have confidence in you and to regard you
as his best friend. Unless you do this you
cannot meet with the best success. Teach
the colt to know that no matter what you
may do with him you will not cause him
pain. By kind treatment in two weeks |
have had colts so fond of me that they
would follow me around by the hour with
out bride.
Some colts object very much to harness,
particularly to the crupper, but with gen
tleness and patience they will soon get over
that. After getting them used to harness
teach them the use of the bit and words of
command. Never jerk or snatch the lines.
A horses mouth is as sensitive as your
finger After the colt has progressed this
far in his education he may be harnessed
up. Have good strong harness; see that
it fits well. Never let horse know that
are afraid of him. Let him understand
that you are his master, but kind, con-
, siderate one. When properly harnessed,
if he has learned his previous lesson thor
oughly there will seldom be any trouble
about getting him to go. If there is, be
patient. Never lose your temper and your
horse will not lose his.
Do not keep your colt in harness too
long at first, but accustom him gradually to
the use of the harness. After you have
trained him to pull your break cart over
the place take him out on the read. In a
little while he will become accustomed to
the novelty of things along the road, and
by the same kind treatment you can ac-
custom him to pass without fear steam
threshers or locomotives.
Any horse can be taught good habits
instead of bad, if not too old. 1t is hard
to teach an old horse new tricks
HOW TO CURE FULLER
There are numerous devices in use by
horsemen to cure horse of pulling on the
bride or halter. The most common of
these is to place thin rope under the
horses tail, bring the ends through the
terrets on the saddle, thence through the
the fence or rack where he has been placed.
Whenever the horse pulls back he is surpris-
ed to find the rope cutting him in the rear,
and the more violently he throws himself
back the more severe the twitch he receives
This will cure some horses, but occasion
ally it viii make horse kick and you have
two faults instead of one.
A better plan is to pass the rope around
the body, and carry it under the breast
up between the fore legs, through the
bride rein and fasten it to the rail in front.
The motion of the horse backward causes
the rope to press upon his back and the
harder he pulls the more severe the pres
sure. There is no danger of injuring a
horse with this continuance and it will eff
fectually cure the worst halter-breaker.
KICKING HORSES.
One of the most dangerous faults horse
can have is a disposition to kick when har-
messed to vehicle Mr.. Simnacher has
broken some of the very worst kickers.
In curing this, as well as other faults, the
horse must be treated gently, kindly but
firmly. Mr.. Simnacher has found little
contrivance of his own much more useful
as a safeguard in breaking kicker than
the ordinary kicking straps. Straps are
run from the saddle hook through iron
loops on each side of the bride, then pass
ed down the jaw strap to the bit, passing
through the rings; then back again be-
tween the ears, under the brow band and
back to the saddle rings; passing through
these and through two rings on the hip
straps, finally being fastened to the shafts.
With this arrangement the moment
horse raises his heels he throws his head
in the air. The harder he tries to kick
the more strain there is on the strap pull
ing his head up.
Shooting HORSES.
Colts should be taught to be shod quiet
ly. This can be done by taking up their
feet every day, cleaning them out and tap
ping on them with hammer. Then when
you want them shod there will be no diff
Guilty Don't let your blacksmith pare
away the frog of the foot. This is natures
pad to protect the foot Only the ragged
parts should be cut away. No blacksmith
who understands his business will place
hot shoe to a horses foot and let it burn
tile HOOI uuIli IL HlS ltScu IIb Iuc suOc
to the foot, not the foot to the shoe. The
heels should be kept open to prevent con-
traction Of the hoof The shoes should be
changed about once in every four weeks.
Colts are often permantly injured by
being shod too heavily in front, thereby
straining the muscles of the legs and
springing them at the knees. When first
handled colt should be shod with twelve
ounce shoe-not heavier. If it is neces-
sary, in speeding him, to have more weight
in front, use toe weights. Then your colt
will not be compelled to carry the extra
weight all the time.
CLIPPING HORSES.
Mr.. Simnacher does not like clipping
horses, except to trim the fetlocks and
legs 1t is cruel practice. In summer
they are tormented by flies and in winter
they must be kept blanketed constantly to
keep them from taking cold. Clipping is
a good thing for lazy horsemen, because
clipped horse can be easily groomed 1t