The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-02

firm manner the first few months of their
lives rarely resist or cause trouble In after
years, when the time arrives for them TO
be put to work. They should be perfectly
familiarized with the presence of man
and TO his touch; n little careful manage
ment in the beginning viii accomplish il.
A great man of the tricks and vices to
which horses are addicted have their origin
In an early neglect or proper handling.
and while some Older horses have been
spoiled by the ignorance ana bad temper
Of those having charge of their manage
ment the mischief is done in the great ma
1ority of cases during cOlthood.
III intelligent thought, combined with
skilled knowledge and good judgment were
more often employed in the training ane
management Of the young colt many or
the tricks and bad habits Of the more
matured horse would be avoided.
The disagreeable and dangerous practice,
so common, of putting on the halter or
hitching strap, until something gives way
and the horse frees himself from his fast
ening, is the outgrowth OF previous neg
iect IN not having these bitches heavy
enough TO resist his strength; at some
Time the rope or strap has given away
under strong pull, and the colt does rot
forget such occurrences, and though II
would have been easy to have prevented
the habit by. providing a tie that he could
not break; 20 overcome and cure the trick
after il is once formed is another thing,
and not so easy.
The best time TO accustom the colt to the
halter and 10 teach il subsection by gentle
means is while It is srill with the dam be-
fore weaving. IL is not at all a difficult
matter to fit the halter 90 the colts head
without causing the least fear or nervous
ness, If IL has been handled judiciously up
TO that time, and Il will have no melt
nation 20 break away II tied in the stable
with the mare this and similar lessons
(familarity with the collar and other parts
Of the harness being among them, may
be inculcated at a tender age and the re-
collection Of them. and the futile struggle
that ended in defeat will about insure good
behavior from the colt, the balance Of
his life.
1t Is the colt that has reached one or two
years old before any attempt has been
made TO handle him or TO teach him as 10
his future duties. that causes the most
trouble. and which is most likely to be
spoiled. He possesses uot the remotest idea
as to what is required of him, and if ne
Is Of a nervous or shy disposition, gets
frightened at his age with his strength
becomes unmanageabe except through
brute force, which is always to be depre-
Gated in such cases. and too often he Is
beaten and III used by those having him
In CHARGE
Such a colt may be haltered by strata
gem and his rebelious spirit subdued for
the time because his powers are no match
for his brutal opponent but throughout
all his life he may be depended upon to
be either vicious or extremely nervous and
shy, for he Will never forget his first in
terview with man and the rough usage he
then encountered.
OF course the conditions thus described
do not apply to all colts whose early train
ing has been neglected. There are often
instances where colts have grown to be
two or three years old before any steps
have been taken towards training or
breaking excepting perhaps, that Of be-
ing familarized with the halter and its
uses, and when called upon 10 go to work,
have fallen into the ways required like
an old horse"
1t is not safe, however. to trust to this
plan with any breed Of horses, designed
for any purpose, because It is very often
unreliable and disappointing in results
the colt should be early taught the uses
of the halter its restraints, 10 lead will
ingly, and TO conform to the wishes Of
those who have charge of his education.
IL Is a common sight to see "A colt fol-
lowing the dam hitched to the plough
roaming about the fields. and often on the
road, the whole day long, and there is
diversity Of opinion as to the wisdom of
the practice; the most progressive horse
raisers do not favor the plan and prefer
10 keep the colt confined IN "A safe roomy
box when II Is necessary to separate It
from the dam, If she Is required to work
during the nursing period, as nearly all
farm brood mares are. Only four or five
hours, at most, of separation Is ever re-
CURED and this is better than the exhaus-
ton following the unaccustomed exercise
to the tender limbs Of the colt and dan
gers of accident are also Iessened.