The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-21
THE EDUCATION OF THE COLT
Tho True Theory of Training, Which h
However, Seldom Practiced.

Tho True Theory Of Training, Which L.
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 ad-
NIT. It 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 at the q, b, Of his educa-
ton. The result Of such undue haste is
obvious; the colt is never really broken.
That it pays IN the long run to follow the
advice here given the writer firmly be-
Heves:
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 on 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 1t
we'll up over his back, repeating this until
he makes DO 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 hs
Is standing in them raise them up and9pb
his legs with them, and finally bring The
crossbar against bis launches, gently ct
first and then more foFcibly, until he cares
nothing for it. ALI those things should
be done to the colt before be Is harnessed
at all.
A colt should be put through series Of
refining lessons before he Is hitched to a
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 1t Ia
applied and getting him under control OF
it, for no horse is safe to drive unless be
win Ego to the front" when tapped with
the whip.
In striking horse with whip, always
do so forward Of the loins. During his
refining lessons the colt should be taught
to stand still at the simple word whoa l"
He should also be taught to back
When first hitched up the colt should
be taken in a large yard and started
about carefully, and when he can be
driven and backed oil about such place
it Is time enough for trainer to trust
himself In the road, where there is more
danger of q mishap, and where control
could not be so readily obtained if one
should occur. In order to "waywise" a
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 ont
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 OF oven.
taking them