TRAINING HORSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 15

TRAINING HORSES.

Tho old term of " breaking," used synoymously with training and education of horses, is in a measure objectionable, as it appears to indicato tho exercise of too great a degree of forco in the process of training. Although harsh measures may be necessary under somo circumstances,, tho guiding principle should be rather a leading of the colt into compliance with our wills by artifice than by force. Another fundamental principle that should guide us in tho training of a colt is to never place tho animal in a position to do wrong, for if he succeeds in acting in oppositon to the will of his trainer he is apt to repeat tho act if an opportunity is afforded. As tending to illustrate tho carrying out of tho principles so far enunciated, let us tako the example of a shy, nervous, highspirited colt, easily frightened, and inclined to turn around sharply, to shy badly, and rear 'or plunge, if restrained it is courting disaster to subject such an animal to conditions calculated to frighten him, until his mouth is made so that you can control him. Ho should also have the sharp edge taken off his spirits by sufficient work in a quiet place, and ho should bo hitched alongside of a tractable, welltrained horso to give him confidence and assist in controlling him when he ig first subjected to eights and sounds likely to disturb him. Every time ho is hitched .with such a horso his side should bo changed so as to teach him to go and carry his head straight and get used to tho pole on either sido of him. Such treatment will soon got him ready for single hitching, without danger. Never hitch a colt single without the ueo of a kicking-strap until he has had a few weeks' experience, for n ho once kicks successfully ho will not forget it. Don't tie up a colt in a place so that he can pull back and beome a halterpuller. Tie him with a strong halter and tie-rope, and with (something to hack against, so that he can't pull back. These are a few simple examples of the manner in which training can be carried ou upon 'the principles enunciated. It is much more trouble and not nearly so satisfactory to have /'< try to correct faults than it is to avoid ,heir development. The exercise of force i! sometimes valuable in very nervous, headstrong horses: but never try it unless you are sure of being able to attain your ends. For instance, some horses are very nervous about being saddled, and could easily be taught to be buckcrs. This tendency is not vice; it is nervousness; and by putting a twitch on for 10 minutes w'hile saddling, and putting a man on the back and loading about with the twitch, the nervousness can be overcome, while such horses get used to the pressure on the back. I have seen this plan save a lot of trouble and avoid bad habits being learned. It is not necessary to go into any more details in illustrating the principles laid clown, for they have to be left to the common senrro, judgment, and aptitude of those who do the handling.

We now come 'to an extremely important point in the education of a colt, but it is one very imperfectly understood, and one in connection with which great errors aro made, much suffering caused, and results the failure in the attainments of which leads to loss and disappointment. I refer to bitting, or the cultivation of the mouth. This organ can undoubtedly be considered as exercising the most important influenco in contributing .to the control of a horse. It is not only, however, in influencing control that it exercises its very important function, but also in balancing a horse, in steadying him, in promoting a graceful carriage of 'the head and neck, in increasing action, and in regulating speed. In order that we can- attain all these things through the medium of the mouth, that organ has got to bo cultivated until it becomes responsive. ' By a responsive mouth is meant one that readily yields to the pressure of the bit brought about bv the tension or traction of 'the reins in the hands of the driver or rider. The mouth responds, whether the pressure is intended to restrain,. guide l steady, collect, or alter the carriage of the head and neck. The cultivation of the mouth, being of such prime importance in contributing to the reliability, comfort in using, style, speed, balance, and action of a horse, it behoves the trainer to give it special attention _ in handling a colt, and remember that in the process of bitting it ie easily spoiled, and that defects of it aro hard to remedy. There is a marked analogy between teaching a child to write and making a colt's mouth. In both instances you are cultivating muscles and nerves. In "one case you are teaching the muscles and nerves of the hand and arm to make smooth lines easily in forming letters; in the other you are educating the muscles and nerves of the head and neck to respond, to pressure. Both processes take time and repeated practice, and 'the mistake many handlers of horses make _ is that there is no svstematic plan of carrying out tho training ■ of the mouth. The bit is usually put in tho mouth and the colt driven before he understands anything about pressure from it. and what it means. By following out this lack of method many bad habits may result, particularly in sensitive, nervous horses, who readily chafe under any discomfort. The experience of repeated irritation in connection with the mouth leads to such bad habits as putting the tongue up in the mouth, going with tho mouth open, crossing the jaws, side lining, pulling, unsteady carriage of the h?ad, carrying the head 'too _ high or too low", going cornerwise, carrying the head side ways, hitching, interfering, mixing the gait, rearing, plunging, and running away. In order that we can make a horse's mouth responsive and steady it is necessary to get the tongue to stand a reasonable amount of pressure from the bit, as this organ protects the bars of the lower jaw from undue pressure and injury. In cultivating the mou'th the first" step is to simply put a bit in it for a few days to get it used to its presence; then by slow degrees exert increasing pressure on the tons-no by the use of reins buckled to the bit, and then buckled back on either eiclo to a surcingle. The mistake is frequently made of having these reins too short at first, and thereby exerting too much pressure on the tongue before it becomes inured to it. _ The reins at first should only be sufficiently tight, so that when the colt holds its head in its natural position tho slightest possible amount of pressure is brought to bear on the tongue; but when he sticks his nose out he feels the increased pressure, and the restraining

influence of the bit, and h</ yields to it. Constant repetition of this results in fregood start in making the mouth responsive, ness, and at tho same time habituating tho tongue to pressure. Every day or so the reins can be shortened slightly, thus increasing pressure by slow degrees, but never sufficiently to tire tho nerves and muscles, so 'that tho colt will fight it or hang on it. If he drops his head too low, use a bearing rein in addition to the alter reins, and use a separate bit for the bearing rein. A couple of weeks of this sort of treatment in a box stall will bo a good etartin making tho mouth responsive. Leading 'the colt e.bout or lunging him with tho bitting tackle on will still further promote tho education of the mouth; but you cannot finish the making of tho mouth in this way; it has to bo done in harness or in the saddle. A great deal depends upon the delicacy of the touch of the driver or rider of a_ colt as to the progress tho mouth makes in responsiveness. The hand should be light but steady, tho mouth should always be felt, and the colt kept collected as well as tho progress of_ his education will permit. Loose rein-drivers aro an abomination, as thoy teach the mouth nothing, and are ant to spoil a horso's gait. Hitching, forging, _ and bad carriage aro promoted by loose rein-drivers. The position of the bit in the mouth is of much moment. It should not be too high or too low, and trainer has to be guided by tho manner in which a horse faces it, in determining its proper location. If tho moutli does not yield to the prosure of the bit, lower it, and put it down as low as possible, in order that the animal will still face it with a reasonable degree of firmness, and not put his_ tongue over it. If he shows evidence of doing this and keeps "behind the bit," raiso it. Much harm is done by the very common practice of placing the bit too high in the mouth. When it is too high leverage is lost, and you cannot bond the head upon the neck and get response from pressure. Other untoward results are that tho lips are curled up, the angles of the mouth frequently made sore, and the cheeks are pressed against the anterior grinders, causing abrasions and excoriations of the lining of the cheek. Luggers, sideliners, tonguelollers, open mouths, sore mouths, dry mouths, and crossed jaws are 'encouraged by having 'the bit too high in the mouth.

Another important point in training is giving steady work. Leaving an interval of two or three days between lessons is a very bad plan, as the sharp edge has to be. kept off a horse's spirits to keep him teachable. A colt never learns anything but bad habits when he is suffering from exuberance of spirits. Give a lesson in some way every day, and two lessons a day are better than one. Tt is not necessary to jade a colt, but keep him steadily at it. Two lessons of half an hour are better than one of an hour's duration. Try to avoid making 'the mouth sore" by using suitable bits in a rational way. As soon as the mouth becomes sore, no progress is made. It is better to leave the bit out of the mouth for a few days and lungo the colt to keep him from getting 'too highspirited. Exhibitors of horses should get their colts trained to lead well before putting them into the show-ring in classes in which they have to be shown on the rein. It is very annoying and embarrassing to judges to have to pass upon colts that cannot show the character of their action on account of the awkwardness in leading, and it often militates against their success. It is apparent to observers of awkward exhibitions of leading- in the show ring that the handler of the colt often needs as much training as his charge. Ten ov 15 minutes spent daily for 10 days in leading lessons will usually, get a colt to go handily. For ordinary purposes i't is not necessary to use the long rein of the expert nagsman as when showing a hackney, but the rein may be held about a foot from the head, and loosely, but just nagging sufficiently to keep the head in position and regulate the pace. The leader should run along and avoid looking; at his charge, for if he looks at him he will go sideways, if possible, or no't lead up. The off side of the horse should be alongside of a wall or fence to make him go straight; a lane is a good place, as the off side can be kept towards the fence jroinij both ways.— F. C. G. in Farmers' Gazette.