The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-05-08
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Handling the Colt.

To develop the courage of a colt Is
an object that should always be kept
in view. 1t is the common remark OF
those who use both horses and mules
that mules run away for fun, but horses
because of fear. This fear is usually
induced by some trivial cause. such as
the rustling of dried leaves, the sudden
spring of rabbit from hedge, the
breaking of some part Of the harness
or the whiflletrees giving way and
rafting at the horses heels. In some
cases the blinds on the Birdie, prevent
ing the horse from seeing, but not
from hearing, are responsible for
the fright. Blinds are opposed
to courage. Even a man is
timid in pitchv darkness, for
he can not see what is lurking near, and
under such circumstances slight noises
may make his flesh creep. So it is with
the horse that can not see to the rear
or sides Blinds cause many times
more runaways than they prevent.
A horse that is naturally courageous
may be made cowardly by abuse. If
he often receives blows the fear of
them is uppermost; and any unknown
noise is imagined to be Il coming hurt,
to escape from which is an uncontrOl-
able impulse. The man who abuses
his horses is often rewarded by the de-
struction of his property and injury to
himself, the result of runaways, But
when the courage Of the colt is devel-
oped, it is not nearly so
likely to run away, though
it be hampered with blinds
or abused by cruel master; and it is
hardly saying too much to assert that
if it is properly treated it will never
run away. Too often the training of
the colt has an effect contrary to the
cultivation of its courage. Forgetting
that temper is the most valuable quail
ity of the horse, it's owner tries to
"break" its temper-to cove the ami
NAL. The horse should be trained,
not broken; and training requires firm
ness, mixed with much kindness. The
man who has no control over his own
temper and whose Judgment is warped
by anger is not fit to train a colt.
AS abuse will make it coward
ly, so kindness will make it courage
Gus. The basis of courage is conf
dence, and the first point is to secure the
confidence of the colt. The next is to
make the colt sure of its surroundings.
Watch closely and whenever he shows
fear of any thing, allow him to smell
it. If he has confidence in his trainer
this will not be difficult, If he SHES
at stump or rock, ride or drive him
up to it. Drive him nearer and nearer
the cars until he is no longer afraid of
them. Have the whistle sounded
when his head is turned toward it, and
repeat this till he ceases to start at the
sound. Handle his limbs and touch
them with strap until he no longer
shrinks.
The courageous horse, the one with
spirit trained, not broken, is the horse
that does the most work. 1t does not
lag; TO drive it is n pleasure. 1t does
not "give-up' and leave you mired in
a mud-hole; it has the spirit, the cour-
age to exert itself to the utmost.
! Among horses, it is the one with
trained spirit, with fine temper, that
does the most work, the least harm,
and in danger acts quickly and intelli-
gently. What horse has more courage
than the Arabian, and what horse is
more docile, enduring or admirable?-
American Agriculturist.