Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-04-21
TfA,M.NA THE coLr.
Youngstsr Should e Handled Care
fully and Made to Obey.

When the foal is dropped, If the
weather is cool, put some old light
wooden blankets on /: and wipe it dry
under the blankets. Then from the
beginning, the colt will know you are
it's friend and its confidence is gained,
the rest is easy, il You do not lose it
through ill-temper or accident, says
the Indiana Farmer. When the colt
is a few days old, put strong pliable
halter on its head. Do not try to
lead it at first. but put the. halter on
every day until the colt does not mind
/. in the least, then put a rope or
!: strap on the halter and putting some
sugar or salt on the colts lips, pull on
the strap or rope and tell it to come
on; he will soon learn he must come
when you pull on the rope and in
few days you can, after a few trials
in and out of the empty stalls. take
him out doors. When leading him OFT
of doors, take hold of the chin pieos
of tho halter and do not let him real,
as he is apt to do if you do not watch
him. Lead him around the yard for
short while, then if he behaves nice
ly, reward him with sugar or salt or
some hing else he likes to eat. In
just a few days you will have the colt
broken to lead and then he is ready
to be trained to wear harness, light
harness, of course, but the younger
he learns, the better for him, and you,
too.
When you wean the colt put a
strong halter on his head and tie him
to manger and watch him. If he
pulls speak kindly to him and pat
him. If he has never broken away
from you he will soon give up and
stand quietly. When he is halter
broken, tie him with the bride. of
course, with a very easy bit, the reg
ular old-fashioned stiff bit I think is
|. best. Put lines on bit and at first
walk at his shoulders, SO you can
grasp lis bit if he should become
frightened at any unforeseen object.
Each time you take him out, get back
farther and farther until you are walk
ing behind him and he will turn and
back at your commanding voice and
lines.
Drive the colt around the barn and
house, show him umbrellas opened
papers futtering, wheel-barrows NOV
ing, etc. Drive him through water,
across bitches, on no occasion how
ever, let him jump across them. When
about one year old you can put the
regular harness on him. Some colts
are afraid of the breeching and crup-
per because they do not know what
they are for, so leave the harness on
him a few hours every day, being
sure before you leave him, that all
straps, traces, etc., are all secured
and he cannot step on them; tie him
so he cannot pull at the straps, as
some colts will pull the harness off
if they can grasp it with their teeth
when left alone.
When you come into the stable
again, speak to him gently and take
off the harness. pulling the back band
oil Lie way uOWA " AlS td11 SOdtly
and then he will not be afraid of it
The next time you harness him, put
on the bride and lead him out doors;
drive him around awhile and teach
him to step over the ends OF poles.
or thill. Do not let him break them.
as the noise might frighten him
When he steps over them willingly
and carefully, drive him up beside
the cart and make him stand still for
few minutes; then drive away from
it and t.lrn around and drive up to
the cart again, making him stand as
before. When he stands as you wish
him to, pull the cart up to him and
telling him to stand still, proceed to
the thills in proper place, then after
the traces are fastened, attach the
thill straps to the th.l!s. then last of
all the Holding back straps.
Do not buckle them too short; that
is make them too light or you may
have trouble. When you get in the
cart, tell him to go on and he will
gently walk Off Teach him what the
words, "back" whoa" and steady"
means. Never say whoa" unless you
want him to stop still, for he may not
stop when there is danger. If you
want him to stop trotting or not trot
so fast, pull him firmly on the lines
and say STEADY" and he will obey
and be pleased to know that he knows
that much about training. Before
driving him down hills. teach him
how to back gently pulling on the
lines and calling by name, say, back"
He will then know what the breeding