HAMPDEN SOCIETY. 233 



tice upon the boat, until you can drive through gates, bar-ways, 

 among trees and over stones, to accustom it to the noise of the 

 wagon, and until the colt has had its legs on all sides of the 

 draw-strap without fear. Then hitching it to the farm wagon, 

 drive it into some clear field, or on some plain, in order that 

 you may drive it in all directions and keep clear of fences and 

 trees, and it is accustomed to the thills. Now you can practice 

 riding it, as the harness has removed all fear. But this needs 

 much care to prevent its acquiring the habit of turning sudden- 

 ly round and starting for home, making it dangerous to ride in 

 a wagon after it. 



In training colts for single and double teams, they require the 

 same treatment. After driving single until easily managed, 

 drive them harnessed together, attached to the stone boat or a 

 light harrow, if you have ground to practice upon. The farm 

 wagon may now be used by drawing light loads a short dis- 

 tance, always stopping the wagon so that it maybe easily start- 

 ed. Young horses should always be driven carefully, and only 

 a few hours at a time. They should be permitted to stop often, 

 to prevent the harness from galling them. The committee are 

 of opinion, that if all horses were commenced with young in 

 breaking, and so fed as to keep them in a growing condition, 

 and kindly treated until five years old, there would be no such 

 thing as a vicious horse. And more than this, the vicious horse 

 attached to a stone boat, and allowed to draw it empty in any 

 direction where there is plenty of room, may in a short time 

 by kindness, be made to draw the boat just as the driver pleases, 

 with or without a load, stopping often so learn him to go or 

 stop at your bidding. 



As to the value of the horse for farming purposes, compared 

 with oxen or mules, the ox, compared with the horse, (and per- 

 haps with the mule,) has decidedly the preference. For exam- 

 ple, the farmer that uses horses, purchases a pair of horses at 



|200 00 

 He must have a single horse to prevent breaking up 



his team, and he pays for a single horse, - 100 00 



Expense of team, - - _ _ ^300 00 



30 



