Breaking Colts.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1789, 1 February 1886, Page 3

Breaking Colts.

Most colts, if taken young enough (says the Ameritaa Ag>'i:ulturiit) and gently, though firmly band.el, can be driven as soon at they can be mi le to kmw what is wanted of them. Now and then a spirited fellow feels bis oats, or is \erv nervous about the harness, and still m ire about the waggon, or cart, and rears, and kicks and pulls side ways, trips himse'f up, and goes down in spite of our best etforts to prevent it. For such, a good, strong breaking ng is essential. The cart can be entirely home made, except the wheels—either front or hind-will do. The shafts are a pair of seasoned hickory po'es, extending about aft behind the wheels. They are bolted upon the axle-tree, and underneath these is a lighter pair of poles attached to the shafts in front, and bolted also to the axle-tree, perhaps by the same clamp that fastens on the shafts. These extend back as braces, and are mortised into pieces, which are themselves mortised into the shaft-poles near *he end. The object ot this arrangraent is to keep a colt from rearing. The ends of these pieces will bear upon the ground the moment he lifts himself up. The same result would be accomplished by hawing the poles extended out far behind, but this makes turning exceedingly awkward, so that rigs of this kind can only be comfortably used in an open lot. The box. or body of this vehicle is made with reference to strength, so that it cannot well be kicked to pieces, nor broken by overturning or being run away with. A strong plank is bolted to the poles in front; uprights and crossboards of fin spruce from the dashboard, which is well braced. The back and seat are similarly attached. It is important that the seat should be so placed that the driver will throw his full weight foward. to bring the bearing of the shafts upon the saddle, or backward, to lift up on the girth or bellyband. The harness should always be sufficiently strong, and before using the breaking-cart the colt must be well harness broken.

The system to be pursued is as follows We are, of course, supposed to start with a colt well baiter broken. First, introduce each particular portion of the harness to the colt before putting it on, by letting him nose it and smell it. If it is apple time have a pocketful of small sweet apples. When the saddle is laid on, give an apple. The girt is mads tight as soon as the natural, nervous shrinking at feeling the saddle has passed ; then give another. Then slowly draw the breeching over the rump, soothing the nervous animal, and giving an apple or two. The hold-back straps, usually used for attaching tbs breeching to the shafts, should have beeu removed, and side-straps substituted. A very docile colt may be an inverterate kicker, simply by feeling the straps dangling from the breeching, and bitting bis legs. If he becomes thoroughly frightened or nervous about these, he is liable to remember it and kick viciously whenever anything touches his legs in a similar way. and it is hard to break him of bis trick. After stand ing a while, neglecting the collar, hames, and traces, or the Dutch collar, whichever is preferred, the headstall is put on over the halter, which should be a strong one. A bead-tall with blinders is best, and-it should fit well, and the banders should lie so snug that even when the head is thrown up, and he pulls bard on the bit, they will not lift off from the cheeks, and enable the colt to see whai is behind him Auer standing a win e, he may be led out and wa ; keJ about —taught what whoa means, especially ; taught to go forward at the word, to waik, to trot, and turn in a large circle, always going over thesame ground, but nut stopping and turning at the same places. This done, the reins may be attached, and the colt may be driven over the ground, stopping, turning, &c., as before, and after a good performance, as a reward for good behaviour, or to prevent any exhibition of wilfulness. don t forget the apples, or if not apples, oats or sugar. The next day will usually be soon enough to use the cart ; but if alter a lesson of an hour, with numerous rests, the colt has recovered from bis nervousness and is not in a sweat, has not developed any propensity to kick, or other wickedness, he may have a rest, the headstall being removed, and after a quarter to hal(|an hour, be may be taken out again, this time with collar and leathern traces. Attach strong four foot cords to the traces, and let one man go behind, and while the colt is firmly held by the head, gently bring the traces in contact with his legs, above the bock, first on one side and then oo the other. This may make him kick -if so, give him apples and bold up one forefoot. Persevere until he may be turned completely around by pressure of the trace first against one leg and then against the other. Then go through the leading and driving parts of the lesion, with one going behind bolding the traces, at first pulling very little, and finally pulling steadily all he can. The foregoing is lesson enough for one day. The next day it matt first be repeated, and then the colt may be hitched up before the cart. The traces are attached to wooden pins on the top, and the holdbacks to leathern loops nndenicath the shafts. The trace eyes had better be pnt over the pins, and tied down by a string. In ease of accident, an iron bolt for the traces might cnt the colt, and a whiffletree would be in the way incase'of a kicking scrape The rule is to take no risks It is tair to presume that the colt will behave well, but be may not; if he throw;, himself down, tries to rear or kick, he must not only be held or controlled, but not allowed to hurt himself—and to prevent this, the •* rig ’ must be so contrived as to be quickly cut loose. Now go over the same ground again, first leading with the empty cart, then with a man holding the reins in the cart, with the pressure very light on the saddle, then with the pressure heavy on the back, and again with the pressure on the girt. When this is all well performed, and apples or sugar have kept the colt's mind occupied and happv, it will he safe to drive over the ground* a few times, at a walk, and perhaps a trot. We mast never forget to use the chirrup at stapling, and whoa to make him stop, bearing in mind that whoa is the most important word the horse can learn, and should be obeyed instantly.