Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-07-01
YOUNG COLTS.
How and Why They sho6ld De Taught to
Love Their Owners.

How and Why They Sho&ld De Taught to
| Love Their Owners.
These delightful animals to all good
farmefs-these baby horses-are now
on all well regulated farms. And there
Is a world of comfort and pleasure to .
farmer and his boys. as well as his
hired help if they will be what they
ought to be, in these interesting orna-
ments to the farm. They are the per-
sonations OF strength and confiding
servitude, which ali men with true
hearts appreciate. Their honest and
loving friendship, when rightly and
kindly treated, not only makes a man
or boy feel good, but really makes them
better men. A man can enlighten and
elevate horse, and the man in return
is bettered and purified by his associa-
ton with him.
In the first place. colts must be
looked after carefully in the first
weeks of their existence. A mare has
not an udder like cow to hold sew
eral gallons of milk. They have
really not been bred to develop their
milking qualities. And large, strong
colt demands more food than q calf.
An old adage is: THE breed of
horse is in the mouth" This means
no matter how pure the blood, unless
the colt has good digestive powers and
appetite. the breed will avail but lit
tie. The colt. therefore, should be fed
SO as to stimulate his appetite. and to
be supplied with the proper kind of
frNrS 70 vy<N IN Cd
to the milk of its mother. 1t does not
need fattening food. but something to
give it stamina and vigor of constitu-
ton. 1t can early be taught to eat
out of the feed box with Its mother.
For this purpose cracked oats and
sweet hay are the best. Some foolish
farmers imagine that it is best for 3
colt to fare hard in food and protec-
ton from storms, to make them hardy
horses. We hope this class of fools is
nearly dead. The colt should be kept
growing with nutritious food, suitable
for his nature, such as will keep his
bowels and skin in proper condition.
He must have constant exercise. II
his dam has to be worked, and the colt
to be kept in the stable, when the mare
from the field, before being let
10 the colt. hA udder should be thor
oughly bathed for some time with cold
water. until her milk is reduced to its
normal temperature. At such times,
when in the stable in hot weather. colts
frequently suffer terribly from flies.
Their rooms ought to be dark to pro-
tect them while in this confinement
Colts should be handled while young.
not by jerking. kicking nor loud words.
but by kindness and moderation. Even
, quick motion Of the hand often dis
turbs the colt, and he will soon acquire
> habit of lodging. By kindness grad
nally familiarize the colt to the business
IF his life. First teach the colt to be
led by the halter. But never put .
halter on him which he can break.
Give him to know early in life that
matters can not be broken and then he
will never attempt it when he attains
bis full powers. Teach the colt to lead
By the halter beside his mother when
working in the field or on the road. A
be gets older, put the harness on him
With bride. and hitch the lines to him
u well IS his mother. Drive in this
way few times, and then when it u
to hitch his tugs and haul .
light load, he will scarcely know or
:are about the slight change. And by
he time he il two or three years old
le will Be well trained, kind and re-
liable animal We believe in training
his intelligent and useful animal with
instead Of breaking him BY
0rce or overpowering him. A horse,
{ treated right loves his master. and
lelights in serving him He y imps-
lent at his masters absence, aad well
ONES his return with his agreeable
ray Of expressing his pleasure. He
vill stand By him in trouble. and fight
or him when IN danger. Teach tho
oft ana the horse reason to love and
hey you. and you win hsve servant
vhich win b . pleasure and eompeAr
,n.-Des Nejnes (Ls-) Register.