Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-07-01
Training the Young Colt.
BEGIN EARLY, AND HE WILL NOT NEED
TO BE "BRoKEN."
Fl. w,nslov rerlsv. Pepnsvlvan,a.


The automobile and the auto-truck are
doing good deal of work that horses
used to be called upon to do, but there
is still enough left on the ordinary farm
to call for the keeping Of two or four
good horses. The advanced price Of
good horses has set good many farmers
to do some real thinking, and many have
discovered that 1t still pays to breed
horses for general farm work, instead OF
buying horses in the open market.
The average farmer still uses the
methods his grandfather used when he
raised horses. Colts are left to run at
their will on some waste land during the
summer and are kept in big, open stalls
in the winter time until they are almost
three years old, when they have to 60
through severe initiation lasting for al
most a week; and whether or not the
colt is willing, 1t is practically beaten
into submission. During this week of
severe and almost brutal training the
horse becomes often stubborn animal
instead Of docils aud submissive SER
want.
Before beginning to train a colt it Is
necessary TO remember that certain natu-
raj laws must be followed. Any colt
will kick when it is frightened, or when
it tries to get away from what to them
seems to be harmful and dangerous. A
colt is endowed, like It's trainer, with the
senses of hearing, seeing and smelling,
40 they realize with what they come in
contact. Through these senses instinct
governs the colt, but 1t must be remem.
bered that colts have almost the same
reasoning powers as man has, aud 1t
does not take a colt any longer to learn
not TO be afraid of things against which
instinct warns them than it does for a
child to grasp the idea that this or that
will not do him any harm.
In the beginning one should present
the colt with nothing that Is offensive to
either of his senses. First approach the
colt with some kind of food that the
animal may have smelled upon your
clothes before. The scent will be famil-
lar to his sense of smell, and the colt
W i'll Immediately come forward, and In
this way an immediate friendship can be
created bet W cen colt and trainer. Be-
ware, however, that the food has no Of
fensiye odor, or the result will be entirely
the reverse, and 1t will take twice as
long to regain better results.
Never beat your colt into submission.
1t is not only cruel, but 1t is entirely un-
necessary. II you punish the colt for
what may seem to you harmful the colt
will become more frightened. Give the
colt all the time he may wish to examine
any object, and bis own instinct will
soon tell him whether or not he is in
danger zoue. Never use drugs to affect
a colt or to control its influence. Such
methods do only harm.
Never wait to train colt until you
think the animal is so strong that 1t can
be used 10 the plough or to haul load
of manure. Begin your work early.
Handle the colt when it reaches the age
of eight months. Keep around him
every day, so he gets gentle and so he
will dispel all fears about persons or
visitors when they approach. Don't,
however, be over-active in your work.
Do the work slowly and gracefully, a
step at time, and be sure that each
step is forward, and prepares for the
step that is to follow. Begin by touch
ing the colt with your hands, patting
him on the back and neck, and when the
colt seems to have received enough OF
your appreciation don't stop him from
running off. Use kind words in speak
ing; for if the colt does not understand
your own words, it has such an instinct
that il distinguishes whether your tone
is harsh or kind. The colt will return OF
its own free will, and soon will desire
your company instead of stunning 1t.
Then get your halter, and as the colt
becomes more gentle, slip 1t slowly over
its head. Do this for several weeks be-
fore taking another step; then it will be
an easy matter to put on a bride, and
after few days the entire harness.
Keep your whip away all this time, and
lock it up when you first place the colt
in the shafts of a light sulky. Kindness
will do more than hundred whips to
get the colt to submit to your desires.
II you treat the colt like an enemy, he
will develop animosity and try to re-
pulse all your efforts, and before you
know it you will have spoiled horse ON
your hands, one that will run away
with your vehicle, or be so stubborn that
you simply cannot pull a hundred
pounds on level road with the new
horse. Never forget to reward your
colts when they have done what you ex-
pect them to do. Even If the reward Is
only a mouthful of hay or grass, or a
lump of sugar. They appreciate those
little favors just as much as the little
schoolboy who may get a special picture
for knowing all his lessons. II you have
all this with kind words
and deeds, the rest of the work Of break
ing your horse to harness will be easy,
and you have another horse ready for
any kind of farm work; and from the
time you devoted, only a few moments
each day, you will receive as much de-
light as the colt itself does from being |
your pet companion.