The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-04

Handle colts from the very beginning
he continued. You cant handle a colt
too much. Get it used to seeing you on
all sides of it. Caress it on all parts of its
body; take its feet up in your hands
that's most important feature; talk to
the colt as you handle il. 1t will soon get
used to having you around it, and that's
more than half the breaking.
Then take your colt at from four to six
months old, or, if you like, wait until it is
yearling, and halter-break it. Do that
in the stall hrst, for the colt there is not so
apt to be frightened or confused by strange
objects. Just come over to this stall now
and III show YOU"
He entered the roomy stall of the year.
ling he had spoken of. The colt had al
ready become acquainted with him and
her hne sensitive ears pricked quickly up
at his approach. She showed as plainly as
spirited and high-born colt could show
that she regarded her visitor as her friend
as well as master. Mr.. Moser spoke
kindly and cheeringly to her as he i.rst
caressed her and then fastened on her head
and nose an ordinary rope halter with a
shank between ten and twelve feet long.
The object of this, F" he said, sis to edu-
cate the head. and that can be done far
better with halter than with bit Moth
ing gives you such complete control over
colts head as halter. For that reason
always use the halter hrst. Have some
thing cheerful to say TO your colt always
and after you have the halter on keep
moving around. Teach her to follow you,
first TO one side taen TO the other Study
her temper and disposition and see that
your nrmness keeps pace with your kind
ness. Most important of all, after con-
trolling the head, keep up your handling
of the feet. This yearling will let me ham
die her feet"
The colt made no protest as one foot
after the other was taken up and held a
few moments. "Tnat," said Mr. Moser.
will make it comparatively easy to shoe
her, and il tends TO stop in advance any
kicking propensities she may have. Be
careful in breaking her 10 break her on
both sides. You viii see, as lead her.
that | walk sometimes on the right and
sometimes on the left side, and again in
advance. Keep all around her. in fact
If she is ugly good sharp jerk with the
halter rope viii teach her, without harden
ing her sensitive, delicate mouth. that YOU
are master and she will soon turn as YOU
want her 10. Training of this kind may
go on one or two. or three or four days,
according to the temperament of the colt
Let us consider now that you have seen
her halter broken.
Now, without removing the halter-for
thdt Is sun my main dependence-l put on
an open bride and plain snaEle bit, made
TO al the colts mouth, and rubber covered.
don't believe in the old barbarous use of
gag. Simple and kindly methods are
best, only never lose your Lrmness and
keep your wits ABOUT you. The rubber
covering on the bit keeps your colts mouth
III good condition. Often you hear people
complain that their colts have scalded
mouths. This never happens on this
farm. 1t one of my colts got sore mouth
Lnd out who was responsible for it. Don t
approach your colt with the bit as though
you were about 10 capture wild bull. Go
gently. Muss around the colts head until
you can get the bit in her mouth without
frightening her. II. in spite of all caresses.
she continues ugly, few jerks OF the
halter, which you must never lei go of,
viii teach her that you are master and