River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-07-12
ON TRAINING COLTS


said Sir Ernest.--Lucy Randall Conf
fort, iB Harper'S Bazar.
ON TRAINING COLTS
Lessons That Are Generally Neglected
Owing to Their simplicity.
Three weeks ago | saw two men en-
gagged in ''breaking" three-year-old
up to three days before, when 1t was
caught, surcingle fastened around its
body, bride put on, and the check
rein drawn tight and fastened to the
surcingle. During the greater part
of those three days it had walked about
the yard with its neck curved like a
new moon, champing the bit in its
mouth, and turning its head from side
to side in vain efforts to ease its
cramped neck.
The men now had il hitched to a
heavy rOad-cart, and were giving it a
course of lessons in driving. After
| fierce struggle of about an hours du-
ration. it threw itself down. and there
| it stayed, despite all their kicking,
slashing and yelling. They threw
dirt in its ears, put pep
per in its mouth, twisted its tail and
poured water on its head, and tried
every thing they could think of to make
it get up, but without avail. They
were finally obliged to take off the
harness and leave it lying there A
| few days afterward | saw one of them
driving it along the road at a rapid
gait, and it was one of the most dilap-
idated specimens of three-year-old
horse flesh that | ever beheld. Ono of
the men informed me that they had it
pretty well broke, but it occasionally
took ''spell'' and cavorted about con-
siderably, but good dose of blacI,
snake took the ''tantrumsn out of it,
and they expected to make good horse
out of it in week or two more.
A few days ago l saw another man
| training fine-bred, high-spirited colt
to drive single. and though it acted
little coltish and unsteady it was NOV
ing along quite nicely. / learned that
it had been handled almost constantly
all its life, and it was accustomed to
being led about, tied in the stable and
to posts outside, and had been har-
messed, saddled and bridled so often
that it had not the least fear of either.
IL was one of those fiery, high-spirited
animals that make the best and safest
of roadsters if properly trained. but
which a little mismanagement at the
start will utterly ruin. 1t was in the
hands of the right man, and will make
valuable horse.
Passing a farmhouse a short time
| ago i observed two boys having what
they termed "some fun" with a young
colt. They were teasing it in every
possible manner they could think of,
and though it could not have been
over four or five weeks old, il had al
ready become as vicious as bad mule,
and kicked and struck with its fore
feet quite as savagely. 1t was learn
| ing lessons it would remember through
life, and some innocent person will
have to suffer for the foolish acts of
those boys.
Every person who raises colts should
remember that they are not play
things, and all who come about should
be given to distinctly understand that
no teasing or other foolishness
will be permitted. Gentle fond
ling occasionally does no harm,
and if the animal is high-spirited is
often beneficial; but under no circum-
stances should the young animal be
allowed 10 take any liberties with its
attendant. 1t should always be treat
ed honestly and fairly, and it will ac-
| quire confidence in its attendant, and
rarely, if ever, develop any trickery or
viciousness OF any sort.
A colt should be haltered when four
or five days old, and tied to the manager
or stall beside its dam. This is its first
lesson, and the next is to be led. Have
one person lead the dam about the
yard and another follow with the colt.
When the mare is set to work the colt
should be led TO her whenever il is al
lowed to suck, not turned loose and al
| lowed to dash at her helter-skelter. A
colt that is taught to lead well is easily
taught to drive well when the proper
time comes.
These first lessons are generally
neglected because they appear so sim
pie; but they are important because
they are remembered, and often are
the real making of reliable horse. 1t
should be bridled, harnessed and sad
died while young and then no trouble
will be experienced in putting these
things on when it is grown up. In
fact, the first three years of colts
life should be period of easy, gentle
training, so that when it arrives at an
age when it can be made useful it is
ready TO fulfill its mission. Such
horse is really worth fifty per cent.
more than one, equal in other respects,
that has grown up wild.-N Y En-