The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-10-12
THE EDUCATION OF THE COLT


The True Theory Of Training, Which II,
However. Seldom Practiced.
Following are some practical sugges-
tions on the initial steps IN training young
horses, by Rural Canadian. that embody
the true theory, as all horsemen will adj
NIT. 1t Is however, an unfortunate fact
that not one man In ten carries out this
practice So well does 1t work that, in
an incredibly short time, the colt be.
comes so gentle and teachable, the impa.
tient trainer considers him sufficiently
broken, and hastens to harness and work
the animal, when, In point Of fact, he has
only arrived ut the a, b, Of his educa.
ton. The result of such undue haste Is
obvious; the colt Is never really broken.
That 1t pays in the long run to follow the
advice here given the writer firmly be-
leves
Begin the education Of colt by bride
handling. first on one side and then on
the other. Put him about In different
directions, forward, backward, to the left
and right, and get him to yield to the bit
In each Of these directions. This should
be done both in the stable and yard, and
in using the reins for this purpose the
trainer should exercise q steady, firm
pressure OH the bit until the colt yields,
when the pressure should be removed at
once, in order for him to understand that
he has obeyed.
When the colts head can be handled in
every conceivable direction, and the
muscles of his neck are supple and con.
trolled, then handle the forward feet,
then the body. and finish with the hind
feet and tail. When handling the colts
feet teach him not only to allow you to
pick them up and rub and rap on them
with hammer, but to hold them up until
you get ready to let them go. Take the
tail In your hand carefully, and raise it
we'll up over his back, repeating this until
he makes no objection. Take pole about
the size of sled stake. pole him all over
his body, and pry in between his legs until
he shows no fear Of 1t. Teach him to
stand and allow harness to be tossed on
to and all about him. Handle umbrellas,
robes, paper, etc., about his head and
body until he is utterly Indifferent to them
all. Lead and back him into and over an
old pair of shafts repeatedly, and when he
is standing in them raise them up and rub
his legs with them, and finally bring the
crossbar against his launches, gently at
first and then more forcibly, until he cares
nothing for it. All those things should
be done to the colt before he is harnessed
at all.
A colt should be put through series Of
refining lessons before he is hitched to
vehicle. While refining him the whip
ought to be used, not only to get motion
to handle on but with view to educat-
ing him to increase his speed when it is
applied and getting him under control Of
it, for no horse is safe to drive unless he
will Ego to the front" when tapped with
the whip.
In striking horse with whip, always
do so forward Of the ioins. During his
refining lessons the colt should be taught
to stand still at the simple word "whoa."
He should also be taught to back.
When first hitched up the colt should
be taken in large yard and started
about carefully, and when he can be
driven and backed all about such place
1t is time enough for trainer to trust
himself in the road, where there is more
danger of mishap, and where control
could not be so readily obtained if one
should occur. In order to ''waywise"
colt quickly and make him nice reiner,
he should be refined about from one side
to the other, driven through shallow
bitches, up alongside the fences, and out
again into the road, turned around fire.
quently, to the right as often as to the
left. and taught to pass teams either to
The right or left when meeting or over
taking them.