The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-22

BuluahCo Wulo IIhCtaulo anu Soh1iO,
and under such conditions should not
be punished or cramped by the bit,
but from the beginning of his educa-
ton should be taught and impressed
that in all places and at all times he
should instantly yield to the guidance
and control of the bit as directed by
the driver. The whip, as used by the
ordinary inexperienced, thoughtless,
"hot headed" or perhaps intoxicated,
"colt breaker" is the most common
cause of spoiled colts or failure to gain
the best results. Yet we argue that
the colt at the proper time should be
taught to start ahead surely and prompt
ly, but not with a jump, at little
sharp tap with the whip, should the
,oord of command be unheeded while his
attention is directed to something else,
or even under the impulse caused by
fear of some object or sound.
All successful horsemen have gene
raj system, or method, of controlling
horses, but which they vary as the case
requires in different horses. We would
suggest that any man or boy contem-
plating the education of colt, if he
has never before attempted such work,
or has attempted it and been unsuc-
cessful, first take rigid self examina-
ton, and ask himself these questions:
Can l govern my own temper under all
circumstances while handling colt, and
punish only sensibly, humanely, and as
necessity to gain desired and proper
result? Can cease Furnishing at the
instant the result is gained, or the
horse manifests his willingness to
obey? Can control my voice, and
use it at proper, firm, commanding
tone in educating the colt? Can keep
cool in case of accident? Have l time
enough, or patience, to teach the colt
what to do and how to do it before 1
ask and expect him to dot? Or sum it
all up in this form: Can l give myself
and my neighbors certain assurance
that l can at any time and in any place
show. a little more sense and reason
than even we'll educated horse ought
to be expected to show? Or a great
deal more than an uneducated colt could
possibly be expected to manifest? If the
man or boy can not answer in the af-
firmative, he is hardly fit to drive or
handle.any good steady, or well broken
horse, and certainly unfit to attempt to
educate colt.
We all make mistakes, we all err in
judgment, but should strive to improve
and help others. The writer began in
very small way to educate colts with
no "rigging" except the farm harness
and the old express wagon. The
first bit we used for shifting" was
whitfield out pine stick. The first
bitting..br and reins used in this
case to!drive the colt around the wood
pile in the door yard were made of
common wool Irvine, with bow knots
to take the place of buckles. The first
colt we handled was one of the most
intelligent and the best we have ever
seen, and as we look back to the case
we aret convinced that that three year
old colt taught us ten times more than
we taught the colt, yet the fact that
she is now twenty-three years old,
sound and very smart-and of course
genuine Vermont Morgan-and has
never gone back on her educator, but
has for the past fourteen years
been owned, handled and driven by a
lady:who still refuses all money offers
for her, demonstrates that good results
may sometimes come from crude meth
DDS and utensils, if the colt possesses
enough natural sense to make up for
what the educator lacks.
But experience has shown us differ
ent kinds of colts, and that the better
way is to have good strong and proper
rigging and appliances; by unceasing
vigilance always be prepared to be
surprised" by just what we did (or did
noD expect would happen, and also be
surprised the least when it does hap
pen. We consider q good thorough
head handling and biting education
indispensable, and think this can best
be accomplished by good biting har-
ness, or "dumb jockey" The biting
harness should be properly made, with
guy straps from back straps (where hip
straps would cross iD to attaching
point of buckles on girth for side reins.
We will not here take time to describe
in detail and dimension our biting har-
ness, but will say H. W. Lowd of New
bury, VT, has made for us all of our
breaking rig and five other harnesses.
His work and prices have been sat
isfactory, and he has patterns and
dimensions of biting and breaking
harness, kicking strap and holder, foot