The Van Buren press., 1898-10-08
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
MANS BEST ANIMAL FRIEND.
The Horse and His Training Discussed by
One Who Believes the Equine is
still Good Property.

With your permission, Mr.. Editor,
| propose to write an article on the
horse. He is becoming good property
again, and hence is worthy our serious
consideration. There is no matter upon
which farmers make greater mistakes
than in the breeding and management
of horses. A sale occurred in this
county last fall at which a large num-
Der of high-bred horses we're sold at
from SIS to SIS, because they had re-
ceived no care, were unbroken and
blemished. Unfortunately this is not
an isolated case. Farmers claim they
have no time or inclination to fool
with horses; such should never at
tempt to raise them. If you fail to
give them proper care and training.
they will lose you money, and if you
have to hire trainer to do this work
for you, he will absorb the profits;
hence if you are not i'll position to
handle your own stock, you would bet
ter go out of the business.
The first process in the education of
horse is to gentle it. This should be
done while it is a foal. When the colt
is put in box stall to wean. it would
be good practice to visit it every day.
Don't attempt to force matters, but let
the colt get used to you gradually. In
few days it will begin to take some
interest in you, and if you will give it
little salt, or, better still, a little su-
gar, in your hand, you will win its
baart and annEHanaa f1FaV4r Now
when the colt will allow itself TO be
fondled it is ready for the halter, Let
it be of strap and not rope, rs the lat
ter is apt to burn if the colt pulls back,
for it is imperative not to hurt it dur
ing these preliminary lessons. Here,
again, take plenty of time. If the colt
SHES at the halter, let him examine it
with his nose. Avoid any quick mo-
tions, as nothing excites a young ami
NAL more than the jerky movements
of nervous trainer. When the
halter is on, take short
hold on the strap and commence
by quietly pulling to one side.
You can move him in this way. In
few minutes he will get the idea, and,
if not afraid of you, will lead about
the stall. Never attempt to pull
young horse out of a stable by the
halter. He will resist to the limit of
his strength and then lunge blindly
forward and, nine cases out of ten,
seriously injure himself
If, as weanling, your colt is thus
gentled and halter broken, his subse-
quent education can be accomplished
with little trouble. He will need lit
tie handling until he is a coming
hree-year-old, and, if trained as indi-
Gated, will Office no resistance on being
put in harness. The colt having led
heretofore will not understand what it
means to be driven until it is made
clear to him, hence, as you get behind
him with the lines and give him the
word to go, have a boy lead him off
with a long line, gradually falling be-
hind. In remarkably short time you
can have him turning, stopping and
going ahead at your will. He is now
ready to be put between the shafts,
and, if care is taken to have him COM
Portable, the chances are he will move
off as quietly as an old horse.
If you wish to make roadster out of
your colt, his education has just be-
gun; but you have laid the foundation
for the development of a valuable ami
NAL. The average breeder makes the
mistake of selling too soon and letting
the buyer, who fits the colt for park
use by making him go with style, vigor
and speed, make all the profit.
There is more money, | believe in
the average farmer breeding draft
horses than any other. Like the mule,
if they are in aesh, they can be sold
on the market. 1t requires no special
skill to train them to pull load, and,
as they are of a quiet disposition,
there is less risk of their getting
blemished. Our export trade in horses
is reaching very encouraging proper
tions, and | believe there is future for
the American-bred draft hor Sc. How
ever, if man has the inclination and
skill necessary to develop the high
class horse, he can make it pay; but, as
l have intimated, there is no money in
it when you have to hire this work
done, or are forced to sell an unfinished
product. &c. H. Henderson, in Agri-
cultural Epitomist.