BREAKING YOUNG DRAUGHTS.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1913, Page 7

BREAKING YOUNG DRAUGHTS.

THE BEST AGE.

Some people give the colt a little handling at two years, turn it off a bit, and complete the job later on. With regard to such a course (says an expert), I cannot say that there is much in it. My experience is that once the job is commenced it is best to complete it. As to the working of a two-year-old, it is rightly argued that continual labour, as alloted to older, fully-grown horses,, is against the interests of animal and owner, and the man who completes the breaking of the young horse at two years old— be it filly or gelding—should be a man who knows what a two-year-old can endure when at work without any injury to its useful development, for it must be accepted that the two-year-old, however well developed, is not a fit subject to be put to anything like general work.

Three years is a better age. but leaving things longer is a waste of time, and this waste of time in the case of an animal that has to produce its profit from its labour is a waste of money. To h/eak the heart of a young horse is not breaking it to tisefulnes and profit, and to starve it into subjection during the period of its initiation into usefulness does not warrant- the establishing of docile qualities. Many a horse comes home, from the breaker broken in strength and spirit. A quick shilling is thus obtained, and after the animal gets back to the full stamina under good feeding it becomes apparent that its subjection to duties was only resignation to odds against it. Such deceitful tactics as these are productive of vice and disas± ter.

There may be some horses that are born stubborn, but the majority of horses are just about as reasonable as their owners, and if treated in a reasonable manner do not stop in the road without a cause whatever. Whipping never yet cured an obstinate horse, though it has been at the bottom of many cases of obstinacy.