The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-06-02
TRAINING THE YOUNG colt.
He Must be Handled Young and
- Gently to be Of Value.

Gently to be Of Value.
In the first place teach the colt.
that you are his superior, this can be
done much easier when the young
ster Is small; put on safe. proper
fitting halter, get him thoroughly
used to this. but in doing this do not
tie up to something solid and leave
him, otherwise you may return and
find your colt has either committed
suicide by either breaking his neck
or choking himself, but lead 1t quiet
ly around the stall or yard beside It's
mother and It will only be short
time before the youngster win UNDER
stand what you want when you pull
ION his halter shank and is nicely
broken to lead: teach him that you
will not hurt him, but that II is use
less for him to try to get away.
: This Is a great age Of education, as
1t is with people, SO 1t is with live
stock; the early education is the
most Impressive and lasting, there
fore. slce the horse Is the servant
of man he must be trained in order
to be valuable servant, says the
Indiana Farmer. In training colt
1t is necessary to get on friendly
terms as sour or unknd treatment
tends to drive the colt in a direction
opposite 10 that you would have him
go and make him do things Just the
opposite from what you want. Every
animal has more or less obstinacy in
its nature. Get hold Of a cats tail
and her first idea is to pull away, or
try to lead calf it will brace Itself
and offer all the resistance in It's
power, the young colt will do the
same thing II gone at in the same
way. As q colt reaches maturity its
strength increases very rapidly. and
IL a horse is to become a good work
horse this obstinate nature must be
more or less overcome
There is no more Objectionable
habit that horse can have than 10
be a halter breaker. or to be ready
10 offer resistance every time any
thing out Of the ordinary comes up.
II anyone should doubt this let them
undertake to break fve-year-old
ranch horse that never knew what
submission was, and the lesson will
be very thoroughly impressed; It Is
only in very exceptional cases that
such horses are ever broken SO that
they can be depended upon. ! do not
advocate making d pet Of a colt. and
would advise the reader to never do
II, for like spoiled child they are
always on too familiar terms and
very often get into Objectionable
habits that are not easy TO break.
Teach the colt to understand your
language; teach him to stop at the
single word, Whoa" always speak
the word plainly and at the same
time sHub the colt short and he will
Soon connect the word and the event,
and stop when the word is given.
Follow the same plan In teaching
him to stand over In the, stall, or go
forward or backward on command,
in doing this use the whip sparingly,
but be SIRE that you make him mind
you. A severe punishment will often
put the colt ON bad terms with Its
trainer, which is frequently fruitful
Of forming bad habits, that often re-.
duce the value of many valuable
horse. These are necessary, but Sim
pie requirements, that every farmer
raising colts should adopt. See that
the colt Is trained properly so he Will
be Of valuable service in the future.