The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-04-18
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
A FEW POINTS ABOUT THE EDU-
CATION OF COLTS.
Colts should Not DO "Broken" but Trained
How to Work Buttcr-Horses
That Crowd--Household
and Other Notes, Etc.
Tho ucatIon Of Colts.


When child has his own way, I'M
restrained, until he is ten or twelve II
is generally found that he does not take
kindly to suggestions, pointed advice
or discipline. 1t Is found that little
gentle training In the early years of his
life Is far more potent In good re-
suits than a larger quantity OF muscu-
lar admonition later on. The same
rule holds true when dealing with the
lower animals. 1t used to be the prac-
tice, and is now in many quarters, to
let colts run wild until they reached
the age of three or four and then begin
course of breaking" The result Of
such course does not appear specially
serious II the colt is naturally without
spirit. He very soon becomes accus-
toned to the new condition of things
and settles down into plodding round
Of work. He is very likely awkward,
and obedient only because OF COM
pulsion. But that Is to be expected.
A colt with spirit, however, IL "brok-
On" in this way, is likely to prove very
Enthusiastically. To this method Of
handling can be traced the vicious hab-
1t of ''shying." which renders so many
horses unsafe as drivers-some even
that have exceedingly gentle DISPOSE
tions being addicted to this habit. Fear
lessness upon the road and in time of
danger or accident, comes only to many
horses by long continued care in hand
ling, when the mind and disposition
are receptive of instruction and from
familiarity with all sights and sounds
from those early days when fear is
practically unknown, up to the time of
service on the road.
A colts training ought to begin when
he is born for from that time he should
be accustomed to the firm but gentle
rule OF man. 1t is a great thing to
have the idea grained into colt that
man is his master in all things; not
because of fear, which is an expensive
article to have about stable, not be-
cause he has been led to have no other
idea from the beginning, and also be-
cause he respects and has confidence in
his handler. A horse will guage the
one who cares for HIM with as much
accuracy as the boys in the old red
school houses possessed who always
TOOK the masters measure on the OPEN
ing day of school. Kindness, firm
ness, intelligent and continuous train
ing are the factors that make the salts
factory roadster or draft horse. Let
the young colt become accustomed to
wearing light halter without hitch
rope, or rein, at first. Very soon he
can he tied up for short time, and
especially II he is allowed to go upon
the road with his dam; let him be fast
ened at her side, and SO get valuable
lessons in travelling in the road and
not upon both sides OF it and in the
ditch. The colt that wanders freely
from one side OF the fence to the other
for the first six months of its life ought
not to be expected to have very definite
ideas of road limits when he is placed
between the shafts. He should be
handled from the first in every way
that will be nesessary in after years.
A few moments time spent occasionally
in buckling straps about him, in lifting
his feet and gently tapping them, in
leading him by the halter and in teach
ing him to back, to turn to either side
and to stand still, will not tax one over
much, and will be of vast advantage.