St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-10-15
FARMER AND PLANTER.
MANS BEST ANIMAL FRIEND.
The Horse and His TralnIng Diseased hy
Ose Who Believes the Equine =
sem Good Property.

With your permission, Mr.. Editor,
l propose to write an article ON the
horse. He is becoming good property
again, and hence 10 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-
bef OF high-bred horses we're sold at
from - to rs. because they had re-
celved 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. II you fail to
give them proper care and training,
they will lose you money, and il you
have to hire . trainer to do this work
for you. he will absorb the profits;
hence if you are not in a position to
handle your own stock, you would bet
ter 60 out of the business.
The first process in the education Of
. horse IL to gentle it. This should be
done while it is foal. When the colt
Is put in q 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 use.l 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, little SUI
gar, in your hand, you will win its
heart and confidence forever. Now
when the colt will allow itself to be
foDdled it is ready for the halter. Let
it be OF strap and not rope, as 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
shies 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,
II not afraid of you, will lead about
the stall Never attempt to pull q
young horse out of stable by the
halter. He will resist to the limit of
his strength and then lunge blindly
forward and, nine cases out of ten,
injurc himself.
II, as = weanling, your colt is thus
yentled and halter-broken, his subse-
luent education can he accomplished
with little trouble. He will need lit
lie handling until he is q coming
and, if trained as indi-
:ated, will Offer no resistance on being
out in harness. The colt having led
will not understand what it
means to be driven until it is made
lear to him; hence. as you get behind
him with the lines and give him the
word to SO, have o boy lead him of
With long line, gradually falling be-
lind. In remarkably short time you
an have him turning, stopping and |
,oiDg ahead at your will. He is now |
eady to be put between the shafts,
nd, if care is taken to have him com
ortable, the chances are he will move
- ~ 3AACsAy - al OAA AOHoC
If you wish to make a roadster out of |
our colt, his education has Just be-
un; but you have laid the foundation
Or the development of q valuable AMI
,al. The average breeder makes the
of selling too soon and letting
he buyer, who fits the colt for park
sc by making him 90 with style. vigor
nd speed. make all the profit
There is more money, l believe, in
he average farmer breeding draft
orses than any other. Like the mule,
they are in desh, they can be sold
n the market. 1t requires no special
kill to train them to pull load, and,
3 they are OF quiet disposition,
here is less risk of their getting
lemished. Our export trade in horses
J reaching very encouraging proper
ons, and believe there is future for
ne American-bred draft horse How
yer, if . man has the inclination and
kill necessary to develop the high
ASS horse, he can make it pay; but, as
have intimated, there is NO money in
when you have to hire this work
one, or are forced to sell an unfinished
r. Henderson, in Agri-