The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-11-23
TRAINING YOUNG HORSES.
Some Timely Advice on Their Care
and Breaking Of Them.

There are two things which the
young aorse should never know. The
first is that there is halter in the
world which he can break, and the
first time the youngster Is tied up an
unhreakable halter must be used. II
is doubtful If there is a worse habit
formed by young horses than pulling.
or halter breaking, or a habit which
is harder to remedy. Many horses
once forming this habit can never be
cured OF it. rhe proper time to begin
halter breaking is when the foal IL q
few days old. and only good strong
halter should be used. II the young
ster succeeds In breaking the halter
even a time or two when first halter
ed, the habit will be formed and may
last a lifetime. The breaking of halt
ers and brides soon becomes expen-
sive. The halter-breaking horse can
never be left tied white hitched to a
rig, and when not hitched to a rig
the owner never knows where he Is
to find the animal. By using a strong
halter, one that cannot >e broken, no
horse need ever form this very dis
agreeable habit.
The second thing which the young
horse should never know is that there
Is a load in the world which he can
not pull. Bakers are made. not born.
and overlooking at first is almost sure
to make a baker of a horse. This
habit, like halter breaking, is hard to
remedy, and every one owning q
balky horse knows the disadvantages
connected with it. Too much care
can not be taken to never overload
a young horse. Never load at first
heavier than the horse with which
the youngster is hitched can pull, and
this horse should always be a reliable
puller. Young horses. think, should
be broken double before being hitch
ed singly. After horse is thoroughly
broken double there is seldom any
trouble to break him to drive singly.
All young horses should be broken to
drive single. as this Is a market re-
quirement.
To let the young horse know what
Is wanted OF him is absolutely neces-
sary. When this Is once known the
youngster will usually fulfill the re-
quirements. After the young horse
is thoroughly halter broken the har-
ness should be put upon him and he
should be led and driven around four
or six times day for two or three
days before being hitched, with good
level-headed, fast-walking horse, one
that can start quickly and go fast IL
necessary.
Do not hitch the young horse to a
hfgh-priced rig the arst time. He may
break 1t up for you. There is moth
ing better and no better time than a
sled In winter when there is snow on
the ground. Driving through a six
inch snow soon takes the wire-edge on
and in case the youngster should
throw himself he is not likely to get
bruised or. SCARED. The farmer also
has more time at this season of the
year than any otter to train his young
horses properly. Nothing but good.
strong harness should be used. None
other will do. Always have a good
whip hitch up quickly and 90 ahead.
Do not stop for trifies. II the young
ster kicks, 60 ahead. Let him kick
until he gets tired and quits, and that
will end the kicking. Hitch him at
least twice day until broken. Once
a month will not do at all. With
kindness. firmness and level-headed-
ness there is no reason why q young
horse should no. be fairly wen brok-
en- in months time, and everybody
knows the advantage OF a well-broken
horse. 1t is pity that SO many good
horses are spoiled In the training
Charles McIntire, Muskingum county,
Ohio.