The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-05-13
COLTS THAT
 BALK AND KICK
Harness to Use Suggestions on Handling the Colt Dur ing Breaking Colts
 Feet Need Care.

Washington, May r3.-In breaking the colt to draw vehicle thes horse may develop bad habits unless he is properly handled. The most common cause of balkiness among horses is punishment to make them do some thing they can not do or that they do not understand how to do, says United States Department of Agri- culture Bulletin No. 667. Breaking and Training Colts,'' If the horse balks because the load is too heavy, and he is not allowed occasionally to rest and regain his breath. the use of whip or spur will very often provoke further and more stubborn rebellion. He should be given a short rest, and while he is resting. rub his nose, pick up front foot and tap the hoof few times, or adjust the harness, and he may forget his balkiness. Take up the lines and give the comma Id to. go ahead, turning slightly to the right or left to start If the horse does. not start it is either a case of overload or chronic baker. If the former, the load should be frightened, but if the case is the latter, training will be necessary to overcome the habit
 !. Where the baking habit is fixed, the horse should be trained to obey all commands with promptness with out being hitched to the wagon.
 
 which consist of strong surcingle. four two-tnch iron rings, two straps to go around pasterns, and a rope about 5 feet long. F'asten two two inch rings to the understde of the surcingle and put straps with rings through rear ring on surcingIe, through ring on near foot, up through off side surcing1e ring, down and tie to off fore foot A pull on the rope when the horse steps will bring him to his knees Always use knee pads or have the. horse on soft ground. where he will not injure his knees
 Use the ropes until the horse stops and stands when he hears Whoa '' Next put on the guy line, which should be managed by an assistant while you drive and attend to the trip ropes. The guy line is rope fastened around the horse ssneek and a half hitch over the lower jaw It is very severe and should not be used to excess If the horse shows any tendency to balks give the command Whoa" before he stops of his own accord. When ready to start, the assistant should take position in front of the horse and S.smartIy jerk him forward with the guy line at the same time you give the command Get up" Repeat the process of stopping and starting until the horse shows no signs of self will Use the guy line and use it severely, aon the is going to balk. After a few of these lessons the horse may be hitched to the wagon. The trip. ropes and guy line should be kept on until he is we'll broken of the habit.
 In treating the colt to overcome kicking put on the harness and trip ropes. Let the assistant take stick about four feet long, wrap a gunny sack around one end and tie it. With this the assistant, if he stands at the colts shoulders and holds the halter with one hand, can rub the colt 8 hind legs without being placed in danger of his heels. If the colt kicks. do not hit him but allow him to examine the stick again, and pro- ceed to stick and pole. him all over that is, make him become accustomed to being touched on any part of his anatomy without kicking. After he, becomes submissive to the stick, tie sacks of hay to the traces and breech- ing and continue the lesson until he pays no attention to it.
 Fasten a long pole on either side of him, with one end to drag on the ground, the other end to be fastened to the shaft carrier. Drive the colt around with these, and if he at tempts to kick, steady him and pull him to his knees. This should he continued until he submits to the poles dragging between his legs and all around him. This is also a good lesson to be given a colt that does not kick, before trying to drive him single.
 Care of the Colts Feet.
 The care of a horses feet should commence when he is a colt, that is. before he is weaned Untrinn1ed hoofs usually grow long and uneven, and crooked foot, or worse, a crook 1 eg leg is the result. Failure to reg u1ate the length and bearing of the footi may make straight leg crook ed or a crooked leg worse, while in telligent care during the growing pe- riod can gradually improve a leg that is crooked at birth. When picking up a, colts foot teach him to stand on three legs and not depend on the one holding up his foot for the fourth point of support The handling of a colts feet begins with the near front foot Tie a rope around the pastern grasp the rope close to the foot, push gently against the shoulder and quick 1y lift the foot. The lifting of the foot must be simultaneous with the weight shifting to the other feet. Gentle the foto and leg and let it down. Repeat several times and then trim and level the hoof.
 To raise a hind foot, on a rope as %11,1 e.