DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 655 



other case was this: I had stopped at the top of a long hill with a load of wood, 

 and when I stepped on to the doubletree to climb on to the load, the stick I took 

 hold of to pull myself up by, pulled out, and I fell with my head between the 

 mare's heels, and the stick came rattling down over the chains on top of me. 

 If she had started at all the wagon would have run over me, for I was exactly 

 in front of the wheel. Now, I do not say that every horse can be trained to do 

 as mine did, but I do say that if it is ever done it must be while it is young, and 

 that what the colt is taught young it never forgets. I have no faith in the 

 theory that a colt should never be put to work until it is 4 years old. Of course, 

 we must exercise judgment and not strain our young horses by pulling thera 

 hard, but I see no more reason why a colt should do nothing until it is full 

 grown, than a boy, and every boy works from the time he is 12 or 14 years old. 

 A well grown colt can be used for light work from the time it is 30 mouths old 

 and made to pay its keeping, and if good judgment is exercised it will be all the 

 better for it. One thing is indispensable in training a colt, and that is that you 

 control your temper. The man who will get angry, and jerk and whip a colt, 

 is not fit to have charge of it, and need not expect to render it docile and 

 obedient. 



Remarks. — As this gentleman says, every horse may not be as docile as his 

 was, even if trained the same; but the author fully believes that 9 out of every 

 10 would be equally docile under just such circumstances. But most positively 

 would not without this early training. 



Bitting the Colt and Training to Harness.— In the warm days of 

 spring, when the colt is 1 year old, let the bitting process be commenced; and if 

 the colt has been handled from its birth, as above suggested, it will usually sub- 

 mit to the bitting process as quietly as he will to any other training. After put- 

 ting on the bitting fixtures, turn him loose in a safe yard, i. e., with no obstruc- 

 tions, as wagons, sheep racks, etc. , with which he might come in contact, allow- 

 ing him an hour or so to become familiar with the harness, being careful to 

 check him up but little the first time above what he carries his head naturally, 

 but checking higher and higher each day until the proper carriage of the head 

 is attained. I dislike an over-high carriage of the head in any horse. After a 

 day or two, a cord 12 to 15 feet in length may be tied to the bits and the colt 

 allowed or trained, if need be, to exercise in a circle or around you, but never 

 carrying it so far as to tire or worry him, gently patting and petting him from 

 time to time to show that no harm is intended. This should be gone over again 

 and again through the summer and winter following, and when it is 2 years old 

 it may be harnessed and hitched beside its mother, if she be gentle and kind, 

 else beside an old, gentle horse, and driven quietly about, at first with only the 

 harness on, then to a light carriage, with never more than two therein, and 

 accustomed to driving until it becomes second nature to do as its companion 

 does, but never upon long and exhaustive journeys; but simply enough to 

 harden its flesh and aid its muscular development. And even from 8 until 4 

 years old a colt should be driven with exceeding care, never over-loaded, as this 

 is the critical age of the colt, or its period of second dentition, and it can not, 

 therefore, masticate hard food, as it can after its teething is completed. Indeed, 

 all young horses should be used with care, and never put to steady exhaustive 

 work until they are 6 years old, after which, with this early care, they wiW 

 become stouter and increase in power and speed until 10 or even 13 years < )14 



